So, if you haven't heard about the Denver airport, it's a little different from other airports:

An insane amount of money went into building it...and not everyone is sure how it was spent.

When Denver International Airport opened on Feb. 28, 1995, construction had fallen 16 months behind schedule, and $2 billion over budget. The final cost of the Denver airport was $4.8 billion, which is a lot of money. People wondered what it had gone toward. The airport itself is 35,000 acres, which is almost twice as large as the next biggest U.S. airport.

Thinkstock

The airport's runways look like a swastika.

An aerial view of the runways at Denver International Airport shows that they resemble the shape of a swastika. This is not a typical formation for an airport's runways. However, an airport representative has said that the runways are designed that way so that they can be used simultaneously no matter the weather condition, since none of the runways overlap. She told the U.K.'s The Telegraph, "We think the shape looks like a pinwheel."

Google Maps

The airport's dedication stone has imagery from a secret society.

The airport was dedicated on March 19, 1994, and a capstone was placed inside the airport to memorialize it. This dedication stone displays the Masonic symbol of a compass with a capital G inside. Underneath the symbol, the "New World Airport Commission" is credited with helping fund and build the airport.

What is the "New World Airport Commission"? Airport officials have said that it was a commission for the new "world airport,' but the wording calls to mind the New World Order conspiracy. New World Order conspiracists believe that there has been a small group of powerful people working together in secret throughout history toward establishing a single all-powerful global government.

The Masonic symbol ties into this conspiracy. Freemasonry is a very real secret fraternal society that's allegedly the largest in the world and may have existed as far back as the Middle Ages. Since this secret society has had many powerful members throughout history, people have long been suspicious that the Freemasons were looking to seize power. Perhaps they are involved in trying to establish the New World Order?

Not helping things: Conspiracy theorists have pointed out that if you add up the numbers in the airport's dedication date, you get 33, which is reportedly the highest level of Freemasonry. More helpful: This only works if you leave out "March," making it kind of a stretch.

]]>Ricky Sanshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/rickysans/the-mysterious-conspiracy-theories-surrounding-the-denver-aiTue, 12 Apr 2016 18:01:06 -0400The Denver airport is kind of a weird place.rickysansnonadultnonadultWhen Denver International Airport <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">opened</a> on Feb. 28, 1995, construction had fallen 16 months behind <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">schedule</a>, and $2 billion over <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">budget</a>. The final <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">cost</a> of the Denver airport was $4.8 billion, which is a <i>lot</i> of money. People wondered what it had gone toward. The airport itself is 35,000 acres, which is almost <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">twice</a> as large as the next biggest U.S. airport.nonadultAn aerial view of the runways at Denver International Airport shows that they resemble the shape of a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/colorado/articles/The-airport-that-launched-a-thousand-conspiracy-theories/">swastika</a>. This is not a typical formation for an airport's runways. However, an airport representative has said that the runways are designed that way so that they can be used simultaneously no matter the weather condition, since none of the runways overlap. She <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/colorado/articles/The-airport-that-launched-a-thousand-conspiracy-theories/">told</a> the U.K.'s <i>The Telegraph</i>, "We think the shape looks like a pinwheel."nonadultThe airport was dedicated on March 19, 1994, and a capstone was placed inside the airport to memorialize it. This dedication stone <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/colorado/articles/The-airport-that-launched-a-thousand-conspiracy-theories/">displays</a> the Masonic symbol of a compass with a capital G inside. Underneath the symbol, the "New World Airport Commission" is credited with helping fund and build the airport.
What is the "New World Airport Commission"? Airport officials have <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/colorado/articles/The-airport-that-launched-a-thousand-conspiracy-theories/">said</a> that it was a commission for the new "world airport,' but the wording calls to mind the New World Order conspiracy. New World Order conspiracists <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/new-world-order/">believe</a> that there has been a small group of powerful people working together in secret throughout history toward establishing a single all-powerful global government.
The Masonic symbol ties into this conspiracy. Freemasonry is a very <a href="http://www.britannica.com/topic/order-of-Freemasons">real</a> secret fraternal society that's allegedly the largest in the world and may have existed as far back as the Middle Ages. Since this secret society has had many powerful members throughout history, people have long been <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203476804576612841564312696">suspicious</a> that the Freemasons were looking to seize power. Perhaps they are involved in trying to establish the New World Order?
Not helping things: Conspiracy theorists have pointed out that if you <a href="http://blackbag.gawker.com/the-denver-airport-will-be-a-nazi-paradise-after-our-nu-1692022699">add up</a> the numbers in the airport's dedication date, you get 33, which is reportedly the highest level of Freemasonry. More helpful: This only works if you leave out "March," making it kind of a stretch.nonadultMany of the conspiracies around the Denver airport revolve around what may lie beneath the airport. A former airport construction worker <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">claimed</a> that the reason why the airport was so far behind schedule was because five multistory buildings were built underneath the airport. This same construction worker, as well as others, also supposedly said that there was a complex network of tunnels beneath the airport.
These claims led people to <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">theorize</a> that there may be anything from a vast network of underground New World Order command bunkers, to post-apocalyptic fallout <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/colorado/articles/The-airport-that-launched-a-thousand-conspiracy-theories/">shelters</a> for the global elite (such as billionaires and politicians), to a future FEMA concentration camp waiting to be used beneath Denver International Airport.
It was later <a href="http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_denver_international_airport_conspiracy">determined</a> that the "underground tunnels" had actually become home to the airport's rail system.nonadultOne of the most startling things in the Denver airport are the murals that line the walls on Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal. Many think that the murals, painted by artist Leo Tanguma, tell the <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">story</a> of apocalyptic biowarfare destroying the world as we know it, with the New World Order taking over in its place.nonadultnonadultThe art was <a href="https://www.denvergov.org/Portals/701/documents/Policy%20Book%20web.pdf">chosen</a> through a project selection panel made up of community members and artists, and was approved by several government committees and the then-mayor of Denver before being installed in the airport. Even if this art has nothing to do with the New World Order, it seems surprising that so many government officials reviewed this art and didn't think people would be suspicious of it.nonadultnonadultJust some super-chill airport artwork.nonadultSomething truly creepy is the blue horse statue outside the airport itself. Titled <i>Mustang</i>, but nicknamed <a href="http://blackbag.gawker.com/the-denver-airport-will-be-a-nazi-paradise-after-our-nu-1692022699">"Blucifer"</a> by conspiracy theorists, this <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">statue</a> is 32 feet tall and 9,000 pounds. Its eyes glow red at all hours of the day and night, causing some to <a href="http://blackbag.gawker.com/the-denver-airport-will-be-a-nazi-paradise-after-our-nu-1692022699">speculate</a> that the statue is meant to <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/03/17/the_blue_mustang_is_part_of_several_conspiracy_theories_centered_on_denver.html">represent</a> the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse from the biblical book of Revelations. The Fourth Horseman specifically represents Death.
The creepiest part is that the statue's artist, Luis Jiménez, was actually <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/colorado/articles/The-airport-that-launched-a-thousand-conspiracy-theories/">killed</a> by the statue. In 2006, before the statue had been completed, a piece of the statue <a href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/dia-sculptor-killed-by-own-sculpture">fell</a> on him and severed an artery in his leg.nonadultOne argument <a href="http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_denver_international_airport_conspiracy">against</a> the conspiracy theories is that if there really were such an ominous future for the Denver airport, then why would there be so many blatant signs pointing to it?
By the way, most of the original cost increases and schedule delays to the construction of the Denver airport were <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-95-230/pdf/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-95-230.pdf">caused by</a> changes to the size of the airport, including widening and lengthening concourses and adding an automated baggage system.
It's thought that there may be a <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/denver-airport-bunker/">time capsule</a> beneath the capstone of the airport, set to be opened in 2094, so stay tuned.nonadultnonadultAdele Told Everyone At Her Concert That Mariah Carey Should "Be In The Bible"https://www.buzzfeed.com/christianzamora/adele-thinks-mariah-carey-should-be-in-the-bible?utm_term=4ldqpia
That would make for some shady scriptures.

At a show in London on Wednesday, Adele declared her adoration for Mariah Carey to a stadium full of fans and proclaimed the elusive chanteuse should "be in the Bible."

Ah, yes — we can see these shady scriptures now. Mariah 1:1: "And she said unto her Lambs, 'I don't know her.'"

]]>Christian Zamorahttps://www.buzzfeed.com/christianzamora/adele-thinks-mariah-carey-should-be-in-the-bibleThu, 24 Mar 2016 18:06:23 -0400That would make for some shady scriptures.christianzamoranonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult32 Of The Most Beautiful Bible Verseshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/32-of-the-most-beautiful-bible-verses?utm_term=4ldqpia
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
– 1 Peter 4:8Suggested by abigailh2.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
– ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46:4Suggested by brittanym48060102d.

]]>Marie Tellinghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/32-of-the-most-beautiful-bible-versesMon, 29 Feb 2016 15:16:11 -0500"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."marietellingnonadultnonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/kimberlyl4a297a681">kimberlyl4a297a681</a>.</small>nonadult"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
– 1 Peter 4:8
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/abigailh2">abigailh2</a>.</small>
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
– ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46:4
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/brittanym48060102d">brittanym48060102d</a>.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by Abby Johnson on Facebook.</small>nonadult"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
– Matthew 6:25-27
<small>Suggested by Sarah Casey on Facebook.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by Thandi Soko de Jong on Facebook.</small>nonadult"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
– Proverbs 4:23
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/ac2kold">ac2kold</a>.</small>
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
– 1 Timothy 4:12
<small>Suggested by Carlynn Redmond on Facebook.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/claudiam488a1b7cb">claudiam488a1b7cb</a>.</small>nonadult"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
– 2 Timothy 4:7-8
<small>Suggested by Pilar De La Cruz on Facebook.</small>
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
– 2 Timothy 1:7
<small>Suggested by Mallory Hobbs on Facebook.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/shanalc">shanalc</a>.</small>nonadult"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
– Joshua 1:9
<small>Suggested by Carlynn Redmond on Facebook.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/cameronc44af30dc6">cameronc44af30dc6</a>.</small>nonadult"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
– Numbers 6:24-26
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/shanalc">shanalc</a>.</small>
"My God turns my darkness into light."
– Psalms 18:28
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/susannah48a080bb4">susannah48a080bb4</a>.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/logankenzie">logankenzie</a>.</small>nonadult"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
– Romans 8:38-39
<small>Suggested by Dani Saba on Facebook.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by Emily Elizabeth on Facebook.</small>nonadult"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
– Isaiah 40:31
<small>Suggested by Grace Lavelle on Facebook.</small>
"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
– Proverbs 16:9
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/t4b9d90bff">t4b9d90bff</a>.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by Kelsey Hayes on Facebook.</small>nonadult"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
– Micah 6:8
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/merrillannej">merrillannej</a>.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/krazyhorsegirl101">krazyhorsegirl101</a>.</small>nonadult"Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all."
– Proverbs 22:2
<small>Suggested by Taryn Faulkner on Facebook.</small>
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
– Romans 12:2
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/macip3">macip3</a>.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by Emily Elizabeth on Facebook.</small>nonadult"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
– Ecclesiastes 3:11
<small>Suggested by Katie Hollowell on Facebook.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolineevansw">carolineevansw</a>.</small>nonadult"I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
– Philippians 4:13
<small>Suggested by Nathan Brune on Facebook.</small>
"Jesus wept."
– John 11:35
<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/clarec467685bb5">clarec467685bb5</a>.</small>nonadult<small>Suggested by <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/kimberlyl4a297a681">kimberlyl4a297a681</a>.</small>nonadultnonadultWhat Are The Most Beautiful Bible Verses?https://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/what-are-the-most-inspiring-bible-verses?utm_term=4ldqpia
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”

... and wisdom.

Verses that will give you strength and courage.

]]>Marie Tellinghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/what-are-the-most-inspiring-bible-versesThu, 18 Feb 2016 12:01:13 -0500"Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise."marietellingnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultPeople Guess What Christian Phrases Meanhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/kelseypjones/these-people-tried-to-guess-what-these-christian-phrases-mea?utm_term=4ldqpia
“Sounds like an orgy!”

]]>Taylor Freemanhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/taylorfreeman/6-struggles-only-atheists-understandFri, 25 Dec 2015 16:01:04 -0500Shall we say grace?taylorfreemannonadultWhich Biblical City Should You Live In?https://www.buzzfeed.com/ericcorpus/which-biblical-city-should-you-live-in-1xsbs?utm_term=4ldqpia
In case of, you know, time travel.

]]>Eric Corpushttps://www.buzzfeed.com/ericcorpus/which-biblical-city-should-you-live-in-1xsbsThu, 03 Dec 2015 14:05:44 -0500In case of, you know, time travel.ericcorpusnonadultnonadultnonadult12 Famous Writers Told Us About The Book They're Most Thankful Forhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jarrylee/famous-writers-share-the-book-theyre-most-thankful-for?utm_term=4ldqpia
Celebrate Thanksgiving with the books Junot Díaz, R. L. Stine, John Green, Colum McCann, Rainbow Rowell, and more of your favorite authors are grateful for.

Jarry Lee / BuzzFeed

In honor of Thanksgiving, we asked writers we love to tell us about the book they're most thankful for. Here's what they had to say:

]]>Jarry Leehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jarrylee/famous-writers-share-the-book-theyre-most-thankful-forWed, 25 Nov 2015 17:16:44 -0500Celebrate Thanksgiving with the books Junot Díaz, R. L. Stine, John Green, Colum McCann, Rainbow Rowell, and more of your favorite authors are grateful for.jarryleenonadultnonadult<i>In honor of Thanksgiving, we asked writers we love to tell us about the book they're most thankful for. Here's what they had to say:</i>nonadult"To <a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/octavia-e-butler/dawn/9780446603775/">Octavia Butler's <i>Dawn</i></a> always I give thanks. <i>Dawn</i> turns one of the hoariest science fiction tropes — the alien invasion story — upside down and inside out by putting a black woman at its heart and in the process creating one of the realest neo-slave-narratives ever. Few novels better dramatize the impossible odds and impossible sacrifices that African diasporic women overcame to make the survival of an entire people, my people, possible. I am grateful for <i>Dawn</i> because it is a brilliant novel, because it transformed the genre, because it gave me hope for African diasporic science fiction and because, ultimately, it awakened in me a profound gratitude for all the ancestor women I will never meet but to whose pretenatural resilience I owe everything."
<i>Junot Díaz was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey and is the author of</i> <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/348293/drown-by-junot-diaz/">Drown</a>, <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/289021/the-brief-wondrous-life-of-oscar-wao-by-junot-diaz/">The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao</a> <i>and</i> <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/289020/this-is-how-you-lose-her-by-junot-diaz/">This Is How You Lose Her</a>. <i>He is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.</i>nonadultWhy he's thankful for <i><a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/17051/dandelion-wine-by-ray-bradbury/#">Dandelion Wine</a></i>: "Beautiful writing, poetry on every page, and an amazing depiction of a wonderful world of childhood that probably never really existed."
<i>R. L. Stine is the bestselling author of more than three hundred books, including the phenomenally bestselling</i> <a href="http://goosebumps.scholastic.com/books">Goosebumps</a> <i>series</i>.nonadult"I think the book I'm most thankful for this year is <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765331724"><i>Among Others</i> by Jo Walton</a>. I've spent the last five years writing and editing so furiously, it kind of ruined my ability to read. Like, I couldn't get through a book without taking the sentences apart the way I would one of my own books; I wasn't able to disappear into reading. (Which up until recently was my No. 1 superpower.) I read <i>Among Others</i> this summer on an airplane and slipped into it like it was water. It's a fantasy book about a girl who saves her life with science fiction. And it's so beautifully written, it just keeps punching you in the brain on every other page. It leapt onto my all-time favorites shelf, and beyond that, I think it helped me relax. I've enjoyed a number of books I've read since this one."
<i>Rainbow Rowell is an award-winning author whose books include</i> <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250012579">Eleanor &amp; Park</a>, <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250049544">Landline</a>, <i>and this fall's</i> <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250049551">Carry On</a> — <i>a novel about love and magic and what to do when you're the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen</i>.nonadult"I've been thankful for countless books over the years, but if I have to pick just one? <a href="http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/The-Complete-Poems/9780395957769#">Anne Sexton's <i>The Complete Poems</i></a>. It was one of the first books I bought myself — I stumbled across it in the bookstore in high school and immediately felt a kinship to it. It's been a major literary influence — few can make a metaphor as unexpected, yet apt, as Sexton — but it also offered me tremendous solace through years of adolescent depression. Sexton wrote fearlessly about womanhood, about pain, about sex, about the body: in short, about the struggle of surviving everyday life as a woman."
<i>Celeste Ng is the author of the</i> New York Times <i>bestselling novel</i> <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/314573/everything-i-never-told-you-by-celeste-ng/">Everything I Never Told You</a>. <i>Her writing has appeared in the</i> New York Times, One Story, Five Chapters, Gulf Coast, <i>The Millions, and elsewhere, and has won the Pushcart Prize and the Massachusetts Book Award.</i> <i>To learn more about her, visit</i> <a href="http://www.celesteng.com/"><i>celesteng.com</i></a>.nonadult"The book that seems perfect for Thanksgiving is <a href="https://heydaybooks.com/book/fup/"><i>Fup</i></a>, a wonderfully off-kilter little fable by the Californian writer Jim Dodge. It's the story of a 20-pound mallard duck (think 'Fup Duck') and a cantankerous grandfather who finds the secret to life in a whiskey called 'Ol' Death Whisper.' <i>Fup</i> refuses classification, but it's almost as if Richard Brautigan and Mark Twain got together and decided to lay a further claim on American eccentricity. A good book to read when the world grows too dark around you."
<i>Colum McCann is the author of <a href="http://colummccann.com/books-by-colum-mccann/">six novels and three collections of stories</a>. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honours, including the National Book Award, the International Dublin Impac Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish arts academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination.</i>nonadult"The book I'm most grateful for is a signed copy I own of <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/193049/close-to-the-knives-by-david-wojnarowicz/">David Wojnarowicz's <i>Close to the Knives</i></a>, his memoir/polemic of his life during the first years of the AIDS epidemic. It's one of the most important books to me for the way it radicalized me, the writing rewiring me somehow, in a way I'd never want to undo, and what's incredible is that I don't remember getting it signed.
One day I flipped it open and saw his signature, the date and 'For Alex' and my heart skipped a beat.
Somehow the young me who hasn't read it got it and knew to do this for future me. So grateful to that wild kid I somehow was and the wisdom he didn't know he had."
<i>Alexander Chee's new novel,</i> <a href="http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/The-Queen-of-the-Night/9780618663026">The Queen of the Night</a><i>, is forthcoming in February of 2016 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.</i>nonadult"To my surprise, the bible is the first book that comes to mind, specifically the <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-new-oxford-annotated-bible-with-apocrypha-9780195289558"><i>New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha</i></a>. I grew up with bibles in my home, but it wasn't until taking classes in graduate school that I actually read a significant portion of it. I read the Old Testament over one semester, and the New Testament over the next. Reading the book in a secular setting gave me an appreciation for it as a historical text, and as a collection of narratives. It's full of flawed, interesting characters, salacious tales, and all manner of high and low drama. I finally understood why the book has had such an influence (for better or worse) on Western literature."
<i>Angela Flournoy is the author of</i> <a href="http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/The-Turner-House/9780544303164">The Turner House</a><i>, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and is shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. She is a National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" honoree.</i>nonadult"The book I am most thankful for is <i><a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/297267/shahnameh-by-abolqasem-ferdowsi-translated-by-dick-davis-foreword-by-azar-nafisi/">The Shahnameh</a></i> (or 'The Persian Book of Kings'). It's over a thousand years old, with over 50,000 couplets, but Dick Davis's 2007 translation of Ferdowsi's literary masterpiece makes it just accessible enough for nearly anyone to pick up and enjoy. It's even a great introduction to contemporary Iranian psyche, via Persian myth and history. Within its pages lies the story of Zal, a feral child who grows into a great warrior — in my second novel <i>The Last Illusion</i> (I'm also thankful for this book — getting published, that is!) I updated Zal for a modern retelling set in Y2K-to-9/11 era New York City. But without my father reading me its many, many, <i>many</i> tales as a child, not only would I not have had my second novel, I sometimes wonder if I would have even become a writer! Maybe not.
Let me add that lately I've also been very thankful for the poetry of Richard Brautigan, the stories of Can Xue, and the essays of Anatole Broyard."
<i>Porochista Khakpour is the author of the novels</i> <a href="http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/the-last-illusion-9781620403068/">The Last Illusion</a> <i>and</i> <a href="http://www.groveatlantic.com/#page=isbn9780802143860%20">Sons and Other Flammable Objects</a>, <i>which was named a</i> New York Times <i>Editor's Choice, one of the</i> Chicago Tribune's <i>Fall's Best, and was the 2007 California Book Award winner in "First Fiction." Her nonfiction has appeared or is forthcoming in</i> Harper's, <i>the</i> New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Elle, Slate, Spin, <i>and many others</i>. <i>She is the Writer-in-Residence at Bard College.</i>nonadult"<a href="http://www.uiowapress.org/books/2015-fall/workshops-empire.htm">Eric Bennett's <i>Workshops of Empire</i></a> confirms for me a lot of nagging suspicions I've held about American MFA programs in writing: that the encouragement of certain sensibilities and rules over others has always reflected a particular ideology, not an objective view of good writing. Why did it always seem that they encouraged and rewarded work that was either apolitical, domestic, conventional, and/or genteel, or as close to a white dude's war memoir as possible? I dismissed it as a wash of America's typical racism, sexism, and homophobia. Bennett, however, pulls all those negatives under the umbrella of Cold War reactionary politics and uncovers the reason behind the rhyme. And he has the facts on his side. His critical — sometimes almost bitchy — dual biography of Paul Engle at the University of Iowa and Wallace Stegner at Stanford as they built their programs chronicles how postwar academia domesticated American poets and novelists, de-fanged modernism, and sucked up to the Rockefeller Foundation (and at least once, the CIA) among other institutions, funneling creativity into the fight against communism."
<i>James Hannaham is the author of the novels</i> <a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/james-hannaham/delicious-foods/9780316284943/">Delicious Foods</a> <i>and</i> <a href="https://store.mcsweeneys.net/products/god-says-no">God Says No</a>, <i>which was honored by the American Library Association. He holds an MFA from the Michener Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and lives in Brooklyn, where he teaches creative writing at the Pratt Institute.</i>nonadultnonadultnonadultTo learn more about <i>Between the World and Me</i>, <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/220290/between-the-world-and-me-by-ta-nehisi-coates/9780812993547/#">click here</a>.
<i>John Green is the</i> New York Times <i>bestselling author of</i> Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, <i>and</i> The Fault in Our Stars. <i>He is also the coauthor, with David Levithan, of</i> Will Grayson, Will Grayson. <i>He was 2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the</i> Los Angeles Times <i>Book Prize.</i>nonadult"I'm grateful for my mother's paperback copy of <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117659/sula-by-toni-morrison/"><i>Sula</i> by Toni Morrison</a>. She bought the book when she was taking college classes years before I was born. She didn't graduate, but kept all the books from that part of her life. I started reading her copy of <i>Sula</i> in the 10th grade, I think. Terms like 'magical realism' and 'anti-heroes' weren't a part of my vocabulary then, but Morrison's writing — and the life of Sula Peace in the book in particular — set me on fire. The first time I got to the part of the book where Sula boldly says 'I sure did live in this world,' I knew I was really onto something with this Toni Morrison lady and wanted to know more. That moment changed the entire course of my life and my gratitude for the author, the character, my mother and the yellow-colored paperback book are all one and the same."
<i>Saeed Jones' debut poetry collection</i> <a href="http://coffeehousepress.org/shop/prelude-to-bruise/">Prelude To Bruise</a> <i>(Coffee House Press)</i> <i>was the winner of the 2015 PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award For Poetry and the 2015 Stonewall Book Award/Barbara Gittings Literature Award and a finalist for the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award. He is BuzzFeed's Executive Editor of Culture.</i>nonadult"In all seriousness, I'm thankful for <i><a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Oh-Crap!-Potty-Training/Jamie-Glowacki/9781501122989">Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right</a> by Jamie Glowacki. I found this book to be clearly written, extremely practical, and different in its recommendations from all other toilet-training wisdom I'd seen. The tone can be excessively chatty at times, but if the tips work, who cares?"
Curtis Sittenfeld's fifth novel, <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/168070/eligible-by-curtis-sittenfeld/">Eligible</a>, a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, will be published in April 2016. Her other novels include Prep, American Wife, and Sisterland.</i>nonadultnonadultStudent Says Teacher Forced Class To Say God Is A “Myth”https://www.buzzfeed.com/mbvd/texas-student-says-teacher-forced-class-to-say-god-is-a-myth?utm_term=4ldqpia

A seventh-grade assignment at a Texas middle school asked students to deny the existence of God, a student and her family said this week, prompting an apology from the school district.

The writing assignment asked students to answer whether each item on a list was a fact, commonplace assertion, or an opinion. It was intended to utilize critical thinking skills, not to question anyone's religious beliefs, the school said.

Jordan Wooley, a 12-year-old student in the class, said the teacher told students that God is a "myth."

Officials for the Katy Independent School District near Houston apologized for the writing assignment Wednesday, saying it should not have been used and was highly inappropriate. Still, the school said that they could not confirm the student's allegations that she was forced to deny the existence of God.

The West Memorial Junior High student "truly felt her faith was being questioned and she felt justified in defending it and I support that," Superintendent Alton L. Frailey said at a news conference, according to the Associated Press. "However, the assertion that the teacher deliberately tried to force her to deny her God or threatened her God, that was not corroborated."

"Today I was given an assignment in school that questioned my faith and told me that God was not real," Wooley told the Katy school board on Monday during its monthly meeting.

The 12-year-old said her teacher told them that anyone who said God was a fact "was wrong and that God is only a myth."

Wooley said the teacher "started telling kids they were completely wrong and that when kids would argue, she had told them that we would get in trouble."

"When I tried to argue, she told me to prove it," Wooley said, citing the Bible and stories about people returning from heaven. "She told me both were just things that people were doing to get attention."

Wooley said other students were negatively affected and that her friend went home crying because of the assignment. She told the board that the friend was going to come speak with her, but decided she couldn't.

"Another child in my class had asked the teacher if we could put what we believe on the paper, and she said 'you can if you want to get the problem wrong, which you will fail the paper if you do,'” Wooley told the board.

"I felt like this was really wrong and I didn't feel like it was fair for my faith and my religion to have anything to do with what I'm learning about in school," Wooley said.

Chantel Wooley, the seventh grader's mom, posted a video of her daughter describing the classroom incident:

Her mom also posted this text message conversation with her daughter:

The school district said it interviewed other students from the class and could not corroborate Wooley's accusation that the teacher was forcing students to deny God.

The school said in a statement that the teacher never used the word "myth" and that the teacher "welcomed all students' views."

The district said it would seek appropriate action for the teacher, whose name has not been released.

"The teacher is distraught by this incident, as some commentary has gone as far as to vilify her without knowing her, her Christian faith, or the context of the classroom activity," the district said. "Still, this does not excuse the fact that this ungraded activity was ill-conceived and because of that, its intent had been misconstrued."

On Tuesday, after the issue started to gain widespread attention, especially on social media, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted his support of Wooley and the following evening he invited her to the Governor's Mansion.

]]>Michelle Broder Van Dykehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/mbvd/texas-student-says-teacher-forced-class-to-say-god-is-a-mythWed, 28 Oct 2015 23:52:15 -0400The school district apologized for the assignment, but said it could not confirm the 12-year-old's accusation that her teacher forced her to deny God's existence.mbvdnonadult
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-10/28/21/enhanced/webdr05/enhanced-mid-28691-1446083073-1.jpg" width="720" height="540" alt="" /></p>
<p>Jordan Wooley</p>
<p><small>Chantel Wooley / Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153211162998014&amp;set=pcb.10153211163883014&amp;type=3&amp;theater">facebook.com</a></small></p>
<p>A seventh-grade assignment at a Texas middle school asked students to deny the existence of God, a student and her family said this week, prompting an apology from the school district.</p><p>The writing assignment asked students to answer whether each item on a list was a fact, commonplace assertion, or an opinion. It was intended to utilize critical thinking skills, not to question anyone&#39;s religious beliefs, the school said.</p><p>Jordan Wooley, a 12-year-old student in the class, said the teacher told students that God is a "myth."</p><p>Officials for the Katy Independent School District near Houston apologized for the writing assignment Wednesday, saying it should not have been used and was highly inappropriate. Still, the school said that they could not confirm the student&#39;s allegations that she was forced to deny the existence of God.<br /></p><p>The West Memorial Junior High student "truly felt her faith was being questioned and she felt justified in defending it and I support that," Superintendent Alton L. Frailey said at a news conference, <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a75904089f7d404c8b547376067bee4a/texas-student-says-assignment-questioned-religious-beliefs">according</a> to the Associated Press. "However, the assertion that the teacher deliberately tried to force her to deny her God or threatened her God, that was not corroborated."</p>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-10/28/21/enhanced/webdr14/enhanced-buzz-13670-1446081877-11.jpg" width="720" height="960" alt="" /></p>
<p><small>Chantal Wooley / Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153252620053014&set=a.462165348013.247215.713888013&type=3&theater">facebook.com</a></small></p>
<p>"Today I was given an assignment in school that questioned my faith and told me that God was not real," Wooley told the Katy school board on Monday during its monthly meeting.</p><p>The 12-year-old said her teacher told them that anyone who said God was a fact "was wrong and that God is only a myth."</p><p>Wooley said the teacher "started telling kids they were completely wrong and that when kids would argue, she had told them that we would get in trouble."<br /></p><p>"When I tried to argue, she told me to prove it," Wooley said, citing the Bible and stories about people returning from heaven. "She told me both were just things that people were doing to get attention."</p>
<p>Wooley said other students were negatively affected and that her friend went home crying because of the assignment. She told the board that the friend was going to come speak with her, but decided she couldn&#39;t.<br /></p><p>"Another child in my class had asked the teacher if we could put what we believe on the paper, and she said &#39;you can if you want to get the problem wrong, which you will fail the paper if you do,&#39;&rdquo; Wooley told the board.<br /></p><p>"I felt like this was really wrong and I didn&#39;t feel like it was fair for my faith and my religion to have anything to do with what I&#39;m learning about in school," Wooley said.</p>
<h1>Chantel Wooley, the seventh grader's mom, posted a video of her daughter describing the classroom incident:</h1>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153251105353014" target="_blank">View Video &rsaquo;</a></p>
<p><small><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153251105353014">Facebook: video.php</a></small></p>
<h1>Her mom also posted this text message conversation with her daughter:</h1>
<p><img src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-10/28/21/enhanced/webdr08/enhanced-mid-10804-1446083240-2.jpg" width="370" height="657" alt="Her mom also posted this text message conversation with her daughter:" /></p>
<p><small>Chantel Wooley / Via <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153251083993014&amp;set=pcb.10153251084038014&amp;type=3&amp;theater">facebook.com</a></small></p>
<p>The school district said it interviewed other students from the class and could not corroborate Wooley&#39;s accusation that the teacher was forcing students to deny God.<br /></p><p>The school said in a statement that the teacher never used the word "myth" and that the teacher "welcomed all students&#39; views."</p><p>The district said it would seek appropriate action for the teacher, whose name has not been released.</p><p>"The teacher is distraught by this incident, as some commentary has gone as far as to vilify her without knowing her, her Christian faith, or the context of the classroom activity," the district said. "Still, this does not excuse the fact that this ungraded activity was ill-conceived and because of that, its intent had been misconstrued."</p>
<p>On Tuesday, after the issue started to gain widespread attention, especially on social media, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted his support of Wooley and the following evening he <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/659522285607383040">invited</a> her to the Governor&#39;s Mansion.<br /></p>
<p><strong>LINK:</strong> <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mbvd/high-school-football-coach-suspended-for-refusing-to-stop-pr?utm_term=.yn1B0YJYV#.hajlVrkrg" rel="nofollow">High School Football Coach Suspended For Refusing To Stop Praying</a></p>
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nonadultnonadultJordan Wooley speaks to the school board.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult10 Hilarious Commandments Updated By Tony Abbotthttps://www.buzzfeed.com/alexlee/the-gospel-according-to-former-prime-minister-tony-abbott?utm_term=4ldqpia
#TheToneCommandments is a thing and everyone is jumping on board.

Australian comedian and TV host Wil Anderson has seized on a speech by the former prime minister where he quoted the Bible in talking about turning back asylum seekers.

Delivering the keynote speech to British conservatives at the Margaret Thatcher Centre in London, Tony Abbott suggested that European countries dealing with an influx of migrants from Syria should ignore the words of Jesus.

“The imperative to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ is at the heart of every Western polity … but right now this wholesome instinct is leading much of Europe into catastrophic error,” he said.

"Too much mercy for some necessarily undermines justice for all".

Sky News

And so, #TheToneCommandments was born.

]]>Alex Leehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/alexlee/the-gospel-according-to-former-prime-minister-tony-abbottTue, 27 Oct 2015 22:28:20 -0400#TheToneCommandments is a thing and everyone is jumping on board.alexleenonadultDelivering the <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/stop-the-euro-boats">keynote speech</a> to British conservatives at the Margaret Thatcher Centre in London, Tony Abbott suggested that European countries dealing with an influx of migrants from Syria should ignore the words of Jesus.
“The imperative to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ is at the heart of every Western polity … but right now this wholesome instinct is leading much of Europe into catastrophic error,” he said.
"Too much mercy for some necessarily undermines justice for all".nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultStatue of a crying angel in cemetery and flowernonadultnonadultrbbw_63nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult6 Evangelical Hell Houses That Will Literally Put The Fear Of God Into Youhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/sarahburton/evangelical-hell-houses-that-will-terrify-you-if-youre-int?utm_term=4ldqpia
Welcome to Hell.

Parishioners portray scenes depicting issues such as abortion, suicide, and school shootings. Churches put up these Hell Houses with the goal of giving thrill-seekers a chance to receive salvation.

Scaremare is sponsored by the Center for Youth Ministries at the nearby Liberty University. Fridays and Saturdays can typically average between 2,000 to 4,000, so you'll want to get there early.

"I would just like to say that Scaremare is great. I think it is well worth the wait to get in. I would also like to thank all of the volunteers for making it very scary and spooky for all to enjoy, they do a great job."
- Anonymous, Website Testimonial

]]>Sarah Burtonhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/sarahburton/evangelical-hell-houses-that-will-terrify-you-if-youre-intWed, 14 Oct 2015 17:31:04 -0400Welcome to Hell.sarahburtonnonadultnonadultInterested? Read on for the best hell houses.nonadultScaremare is sponsored by the Center for Youth Ministries at the nearby Liberty University. Fridays and Saturdays can typically average between 2,000 to 4,000, so you'll want to get there early.
"I would just like to say that Scaremare is great. I think it is well worth the wait to get in. I would also like to thank all of the volunteers for making it very scary and spooky for all to enjoy, they do a great job."
- <a href="http://www.liberty.edu/scaremare/">Anonymous, Website Testimonial</a>nonadultnonadultThis attraction was immortalized in the 2002 documentary <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hell_house/"><i>Hell House</i></a>. Each year, the house gets over 10,000 people who watch seven morality plays.
"Hell house is always a good experience when we go. I'm a youth minister and we take our teens each year. It's good for allowing people to sober up to what the world around us is really like. Kudos to Trinity church for continuing to put this on each year. Go at least once and decide for yourself."
- <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/hell-house-cedar-hill?hrid=vzXp1U-9U_dnXdL2hQI3jQ&amp;utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=(direct)">Deshunn B., Yelp</a>nonadultnonadultIn the past, the church has presented scenes including a <a href="http://www.cbs19.tv/story/9236397/local-hell-house">preacher officiating over a same-sex marriage</a> and a high school football star committing suicide. No one under 12 is allowed.
"Hell house is an alternative to Halloween and an incredible outreach to the lost, and to those battered by life's hurts and lies of the enemy."
- <a href="http://www.tylermetro.com/hell%20house.html">Hell House Website</a>nonadultJudgement House reported that the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cbcjudgementhouse">saved three souls</a> on October 10.
"It was incredible, very well done. It hits home to you that where you're going for eternity really matters."
- <a href="http://vimeo.com/83170119">Anonymous</a>nonadultThis Hell House also offers seven frightening scenes, ranging from drunk driving crash to a school shooting.
"HELL HOUSE is the only attraction that offers a $5 refund IF you can finish!"
- <a href="http://www.hellhouse2015.com/faq.html">Hell House Website</a>nonadultThis Judgement House is actually free. Free entertainment, free food. Walk-ins are welcome.
You can do a video walk-through of the 2013 tour <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKXZBf8jb0k">here</a>.nonadultMormon Confessionshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jenniferberky/mormon-confessions?utm_term=4ldqpia
I’m a Mormon, but sometimes I wish I wasn’t…

David wants to marry Saul's daughter Michal. Saul doesn't want David to marry his daughter, so he demands as a bride price 100 foreskins of his enemies the Philistines, hoping that David will get killed fighting them. But instead, David goes and kills 200 Philistines, cuts off their foreskins, presents them to Saul, and marries Michal.

]]>Tom Chivershttps://www.buzzfeed.com/tomchivers/call-me-bald-again-i-double-dare-youTue, 18 Aug 2015 14:02:57 -0400"No dudes with crushed testicles," sayeth the LORD.tomchiversnonadultnonadultDavid wants to marry Saul's daughter Michal. Saul doesn't want David to marry his daughter, so he demands as a bride price 100 foreskins of his enemies the Philistines, hoping that David will get killed fighting them. But instead, David goes and kills 200 Philistines, cuts off their foreskins, presents them to Saul, and marries Michal.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2018">1 Samuel 18:25-27</a>.nonadultnonadultSome children mock a bald man. He curses them, and two female bears come out of the woods, killing 42 of them. He continues on his journey. No one seems to think this is disproportionate.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=4+Kings+2&amp;version=NIV">2 Kings 2:23-24</a>.nonadultnonadultIn which Noah gets extremely drunk on wine from his vineyard and passes out naked outside his tent. One of his sons sees him and tells his brothers, who drag him into the tent and cover him up. Noah then exiles his grandson, who hasn't been mentioned so far, apparently for no reason whatsoever.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+9">Genesis 9:20-28</a>.nonadultnonadultGod tells Moses that he is very particular about who can offer food at his temples. No one with a "defect" is allowed. That is, "no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; no man with a crippled foot or hand, or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores, or damaged testicles".
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+21">Leviticus 21:17-24</a>.nonadultnonadultEhud, an assassin, stabs a king called Eglon. Eglon is extremely fat, so the whole sword, up to the handle, is lost within his rolls of flab. Eglon then shits himself and dies, and Ehud leaves without his sword.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+3">Judges 3:12-23</a>.nonadultnonadultGod tells Ezekiel that in memorial of the siege of Jerusalem, he needs to build a model of the city. Then he needs to lie down on his left side for 390 days, then his right side for 40 days. During this time he is only allowed to eat bread which he has baked over a fire of human shit.
Ezekiel protests at this last bit, so God lets him use cow shit instead.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+4">Ezekiel 1:1-16</a>.nonadultnonadultAbram's wife Sarai is seriously good-looking, so Abram is worried that the Egyptians will kill him to steal her. He asks her to pretend that she's his sister instead.
The Egyptians do indeed think she's very good-looking, so they tell the Pharaoh, who gives Abram "sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels", and takes Sarai into his household. But this annoys God, who punishes the Pharaoh's family with "serious diseases".
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12">Genesis 12:10-20</a>.nonadultnonadultMoses is walking back to Egypt after spending some time in Midian. God decides to kill him. But Moses's wife takes a flint knife, chops off their son's foreskin, and dabs the blood on to Moses's feet, saying, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!" God changes his mind.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%204">Exodus 4.24-26</a>.nonadultnonadultTwo angels visit a guy called Lot in the town of Sodom. Every single man living in Sodom turns up on Lot's doorstep demanding to be allowed to rape the two angels. Lot asks the men if they would rather rape his two young daughters instead.
The crowd say they would not, so God strikes them all blind and tells Lot and his family to get out of the town without looking back because he is going to destroy it. Lot's wife disobeys the instruction and looks back, so, for reasons that are not adequately explored, God turns her into a pillar of salt.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19">Genesis 19:1-26</a>.nonadultnonadultLot and two daughters have fled Sodom, and are hiding in a cave. His daughters worry that there aren't any men around. So they take it in turns to get their father drunk and have sex with him. They both get pregnant, and their sons each start great dynasties.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19">Genesis 19:30-38</a>.nonadultnonadultJesus is hungry one day. He goes to grab a fig off a tree. The tree has no fruit, only leaves, so Jesus loses his rag and curses it. "May you never bear fruit again," he says. The tree dies. His followers look surprised, so Jesus tells them that that's nothing and he could totally make a mountain jump in the sea if he wanted to.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021">Matthew 21:18-21</a>.nonadultnonadultA man called Balaam beats his donkey for stopping. God gives the donkey the power of speech, and the donkey complains about being beaten. Balaam is apparently unfazed by the talking donkey and threatens to kill it. Then an angel comes along and tells him that actually the donkey is doing God's work.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2022">Numbers 22.28-29</a>.nonadultnonadultJesus and his disciples are asked to pay some tax. Jesus says that they're exempt, but out of politeness, he agrees to magically make a four-drachma coin appear in a fish's mouth so that his apostle Peter can pay with that.
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017">Matthew 17:24-26</a>.nonadultnonadultJacob is moving house. His wife and 11 sons have gone ahead of him. Suddenly, without any explanation, he's wrestling with a man. The fight goes on all night. The man knows he's losing, so he somehow magically wrenches Jacob's hip out of place. Jacob says he won't let go until the man blesses him, so the man does that, and then admits that, in fact, he's God. "Therefore to this day," says the Bible, "the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon."
From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+32">Genesis 32:22-31</a>.nonadultWhich Bible Character Are You?https://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/which-bible-character-are-you?utm_term=4ldqpia
What would Jesus do? He would definitely take this quiz.

Thinkstock

]]>Jessica Misenerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/which-bible-character-are-youWed, 17 Jun 2015 16:49:40 -0400What would Jesus do? He would definitely take this quiz.jessicamisenernonadultnonadultnonadultBible Found In Tornado Victims' Home Was Open To Inspiring Versehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/texas-tornado-bible-verse?utm_term=4ldqpia
Brenda and David Tapley were killed in the Texas tornado, but their family is finding comfort in this scripture. The family bible was found laying in the rubble, open to a verse that talked about enduring faith in the wake of struggles.

David was a former police lieutenant in Garland and also served as lay minister and council chair in Van's United Methodist Church. Brenda had once worked as a secretary for the church.

]]>David Mackhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/texas-tornado-bible-verseTue, 12 May 2015 15:10:28 -0400<b>Brenda and David Tapley were killed in the Texas tornado, but their family is finding comfort in this scripture.</b> The family bible was found laying in the rubble, open to a verse that talked about enduring faith in the wake of struggles.davidmacknonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultNeighbors told <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/05/11/14-year-old-shares-tragic-discovery-of-van-tornado-victims/">CBS DFW</a> that two of the couple's dogs were also killed, but one miracle pup was found alive, curled up in David's arms.nonadultnonadult<blockquote>"My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts it is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind, for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord."</blockquote>nonadultnonadult<blockquote>"I still can't believe my Uncle and Aunt are gone. Such strong willed, big hearted folks...just gone. As the day wears on the shock of it lightens and the pain of the reality sets in. I just continue to remind myself that they are together, husband and wife, in the presence of our God Almighty. While my friend collected a team of big-hearted volunteers to sift through the remains on the property before the next storm hit, my Uncle David's Bible was found laying in the field open to this scripture. Thank you dear Father for your not-so-subtle reminder. Please continue to remind me of the good times, the sound of their laughter, but not of this tragedy. Amen."</blockquote>nonadultnonadultnonadult17 Things All Christians In India Are Tired Of Hearinghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/andreborges/yep-were-all-from-goa?utm_term=4ldqpia
Yep, you’re right. We’re all from Goa.

"Are you the kind that believes in Jesus or not?"

]]>Andre Borgeshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/andreborges/yep-were-all-from-goaWed, 15 Apr 2015 07:00:57 -0400<b>Yep, you're right. We're all from Goa.</b>andreborgesnonadultYep, it got too boring there so we came here.nonadultYep, my 96% and topping my school had nothing to do with it. CATHOLIC QUOTA FTW!nonadultYeah, I know it's weird. We don't love each other enough to spread it out over 37 days.nonadultALL OF US BELIEVE IN JESUS.nonadultWhat can I say, I'm a horrible Christian.nonadultWait, if you're ignorant, that means you're an idiot right? Is that how subsets work?nonadultOh, I try to squeeze in about one every week.nonadultWe've scheduled a meeting for Tuesday next, he's pretty busy this week with the whole running an entire religion and all.nonadultPretty much the same as going to any other school.nonadultYes, I have to report in at 8AM and it lasts the whole day. You are right.nonadultSometimes, I'm required to carry one around me at all times. The church does random spot checks.nonadultOh just small things, like ask for forgiveness for all the sins I've committed or risk eternal damnation. Nbd.nonadultYou're not even pronouncing that right. Do you even know what Sorpotel is?nonadultYes, on that one sip of wine we have. Yes, we get drunk.nonadultActually, that's a question we ask ourselves too.nonadultYou know you can just YouTube this, right?nonadultThanks, I'll take that into consideration.nonadult11 Unexpectedly Sexy Bible Verseshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/oh-god-oh-god?utm_term=4ldqpia
Oh God. Oh God.

]]>Ira Madison IIIhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/oh-god-oh-godThu, 12 Feb 2015 14:01:43 -0500<b>Oh God.</b> Oh God.iramadisonnonadultHow Well Do You Actually Know The Bible?https://www.buzzfeed.com/jonmichaelpoff/how-well-do-you-actually-know-the-bible?utm_term=4ldqpia
Blessed is the person who does well on this quiz.

Getty Images / iStockphoto / almir1968

]]>Jon-Michael Poffhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jonmichaelpoff/how-well-do-you-actually-know-the-bibleTue, 20 Jan 2015 15:44:22 -0500<b>Blessed is the person who does well on this quiz.</b>jonmichaelpoffnonadultnonadultnonadultRidley Scott's "Exodus: Gods And Kings" Offers An Embarrassingly Outdated View Of Racehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonwillmore/exodus-gods-and-kings-review?utm_term=4ldqpia
The new Christian Bale–led Biblical film updates Moses in every way except the most important one.

Christian Bale in Exodus: Gods and Kings

Twentieth Century Fox

Exodus: Gods and Kings updates the story of Moses in every way except the one that would actually be gutsy: race.

Ridley Scott's latest film attempts to do for Moses what Batman Begins did for its title superhero — give its saga a grim, brawny overhaul and place it in a more realistic world. In place of a revamped Batmobile and other comic book trappings, it has a revamped parting of the Red Sea, with men confronting each other as the tide rushes back in in the form of massive waves. Its version of ancient Egypt has been lightly dredged in mud and dust, the royal spaces airy and spacious, and slave quarters cramped and dark. Moses starts the film not by being fished out of the Nile as a baby but all grown-up as Christian Bale, strapping on armor and accompanying his brother Ramses (Australian actor Joel Edgerton) into an arrow-, chariot-, and sword-filled fight with the Hittites.

While Moses has been cast as an action hero, later training the Israelites in the ways of guerrilla warfare, the religious aspect to his story has been softened, leaving open the possibility that his communications with God are simply delusions, and that there are scientific explanations for the plagues. And the language has been stripped of biblical floweriness, and modernized in ways that yield some inadvertent laugh lines — "From an economic standpoint alone, what you're asking is problematic, to say the least," Ramses tells Moses in response to his demands that the Israelites be treated as citizens or released.

It's The Ten Commandments for our modern blockbuster age — darker, more humorless, and more macho, with plenty of grit to pick out of its clenched teeth. The female characters have less of a place in this testosteroned-out tale of rival siblings than in Cecil B. DeMille's florid 1956 classic. Hiam Abbass, as Moses' adoptive mother Bithiah, has a few lines, while Sigourney Weaver, as Ramses' ruthless mother Tuya, gets only a few more. The tragic Nefertari (Golshifteh Farahani) is barely a presence, though Zipporah (María Valverde), the woman whom Moses marries, registers a little more.

But the focus is on Moses, whom Scott and screenwriters Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Jeffrey Caine, and Steven Zaillian present as this slightly frightening, off-kilter figure, speaking for a God who is represented on screen as a petulant child (Isaac Andrews), and whose agenda is more brutal than that of his prophet. Moses is played by Bale, who actually was Batman not so long ago, and, like most of the main actors, is white.

Scott has been dismissive of complaints about the casting choices of Exodus: Gods and Kings, in the wince-inducing way of someone to whom the issue never occurred. "I can't mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such," he said to Variety. "I'm just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn't even come up." At the premiere, he told the AP that those threatening a boycott should "get a life."

]]>Alison Willmorehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonwillmore/exodus-gods-and-kings-reviewWed, 10 Dec 2014 16:14:10 -0500<b>The new Christian Bale–led Biblical film updates Moses in every way except the most important one.</b>alisonwillmorenonadultChristian Bale in <i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i>nonadult<i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i> updates the story of Moses in every way except the one that would actually be gutsy: race.
Ridley Scott's latest film attempts to do for Moses what <i>Batman Begins</i> did for its title superhero &mdash; give its saga a grim, brawny overhaul and place it in a more realistic world. In place of a revamped Batmobile and other comic book trappings, it has a revamped parting of the Red Sea, with men confronting each other as the tide rushes back in in the form of massive waves. Its version of ancient Egypt has been lightly dredged in mud and dust, the royal spaces airy and spacious, and slave quarters cramped and dark. Moses starts the film not by being fished out of the Nile as a baby but all grown-up as Christian Bale, strapping on armor and accompanying his brother Ramses (Australian actor Joel Edgerton) into an arrow-, chariot-, and sword-filled fight with the Hittites.
While Moses has been cast as an action hero, later training the Israelites in the ways of guerrilla warfare, the religious aspect to his story has been softened, leaving open the possibility that his communications with God are simply delusions, and that there are scientific explanations for the plagues. And the language has been stripped of biblical floweriness, and modernized in ways that yield some inadvertent laugh lines &mdash; "From an economic standpoint alone, what you&#39;re asking is problematic, to say the least," Ramses tells Moses in response to his demands that the Israelites be treated as citizens or released.nonadultnonadultIt's <i>The Ten Commandments</i> for our modern blockbuster age &mdash; darker, more humorless, and more macho, with plenty of grit to pick out of its clenched teeth. The female characters have less of a place in this testosteroned-out tale of rival siblings than in Cecil B. DeMille&#39;s florid 1956 classic. Hiam Abbass, as Moses&#39; adoptive mother Bithiah, has a few lines, while Sigourney Weaver, as Ramses&#39; ruthless mother Tuya, gets only a few more. The tragic Nefertari (Golshifteh Farahani) is barely a presence, though Zipporah (Mar&iacute;a Valverde), the woman whom Moses marries, registers a little more.
But the focus is on Moses, whom Scott and screenwriters Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Jeffrey Caine, and Steven Zaillian present as this slightly frightening, off-kilter figure, speaking for a God who is represented on screen as a petulant child (Isaac Andrews), and whose agenda is more brutal than that of his prophet. Moses is played by Bale, who actually was Batman not so long ago, and, like most of the main actors, is white.
Scott has been dismissive of complaints about the casting choices of <i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i>, in the wince-inducing way of someone to whom the issue never occurred. "I can&#39;t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such," he said to <a href="http://variety.com/2014/film/news/ridley-scott-exodus-gods-and-kings-christian-bale-1201363668/"><i>Variety</i></a>. "I&#39;m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn&#39;t even come up." At the premiere, he told the <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/29866a953d034ab891d2fd87a79ff54b/scott-bale-defend-choice-exodus-casting">AP</a> that those threatening a boycott should "get a life."nonadultJoel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, John Turturro, Christian BalenonadultAccording to Scott, it's just business, though his argument would hold more water if Bale&#39;s co-star Edgerton (who is fine in a role that seems written for camp) were anywhere near as big a draw, or if Scott&#39;s movie didn&#39;t seem to be going in the opposite direction of other giant productions that are incorporating more multicultural casting for broader global appeal. Scott represents a decades-old attitude that white actors are neutral, that they have the broadest appeal and the widest castability, a creaky assumption that doesn&#39;t align with the times we live in today. If in theory <i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i> finds a powerful filmmaker shrugging and giving in without a fight to his assumptions about the industry&#39;s race problem, in practice it looks embarrassing, presenting an intricately realized Egypt filled with various characters of color until you get to the main ones, who are all played by white actors in bronzer.
Because it&#39;s not like race doesn&#39;t exist in <i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i>, which peoples its background extras and minor roles with actors of various shades of non-whiteness, including Indira Varma as a meddlesome high priestess and Dar Salim as Ramses&#39; chief commander. But then you have John Turturro in eyeliner as the pharaoh Seti, and Aaron Paul as the future Israelite leader Joshua, and Ben Mendelsohn as the abusive viceroy (and evil homosexual) Hegep, because a spritz of spray tan is apparently enough to make someone fit seamlessly in with these people of of color. It may not be intentional, but the film nevertheless designates the characters you&#39;re supposed to pay attention to by their skin tone, and gives in to the long tradition of making biblical stories "universal" by pretending the characters in them fit into the confines of contemporary whiteness.nonadultnonadult<i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i> feels too dreary to be offensive. It's just a movie that attempts to contemporize an ancient story, but, thanks to its casting, it was destined to feel discomfiting and dated before it even finished shooting. Like <i>Noah</i>, which generated its own heated discussions about race when it premiered earlier this year, but which at least took place in a mythological, unreal realm, <i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i> is at its most interesting when it unflinchingly depicts an Old Testament God. Its angry boy angelic spokesperson is impatient and not at all comforting, which is a provocative way to get at a divine force who, among other things, kills a whole slew of Egyptian children in order to make a point.
That plague and the others that precede it, including the Nile turning to blood, frogs, boils, and storms, are depicted in lovingly gruesome detail in the film from the moment a group of giant crocodiles devours a ship and then each other. In <i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i>, Ridley Scott shows himself to be much better at reinventing destruction than bringing a new vision to an old tale.nonadult11 Questions Lesbians Get Askedhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/keithhabersberger/11-questions-you-want-to-ask-a-lesbian?utm_term=4ldqpia
My vest does make me feel pretty.

]]>Javier Morenohttps://www.buzzfeed.com/javiermoreno/which-biblical-hero-are-youThu, 13 Nov 2014 18:39:19 -0500<b>Find out where you fit on the God Squad.</b>javiermorenononadultnonadultCan You Tell The Difference Between Bible Verses And Victorian Erotica?https://www.buzzfeed.com/jonmichaelpoff/are-these-erotic-quotes-from-the-bible-or-victorian-poetry?utm_term=4ldqpia
For every question you get right, an angel gets its wings.

Getty Images / iStockphoto / papa42

]]>Jon-Michael Poffhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jonmichaelpoff/are-these-erotic-quotes-from-the-bible-or-victorian-poetryMon, 03 Nov 2014 13:25:28 -0500<b>For every question you get right, an angel gets its wings.</b>jonmichaelpoffnonadultnonadultnonadultQuestions You Wish You Could Ask A Lesbianhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/keithhabersberger/ask-a-lesbian-with-cameron-esposito?utm_term=4ldqpia
Answering your inqueeries…

Verses 1:1–2:3 uses the Hebrew word elohim for God and depicts God creating the world in seven days. Verses 2:4–24 uses the Hebrew word yahweh for God, and has God create Adam from dust and Eve from Adam's rib. Most scholars attribute this to independent sources which were combined to create the Torah.

The Bible actually is the best-selling book in the world.

]]>Jessica Misenerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-bibleTue, 28 Oct 2014 13:18:36 -0400<b>Like that time Moses checked out God&#39;s butt.</b> (It&#39;s in there.)jessicamisenernonadultStudy Says Children Exposed To Religion Can Have Trouble Separating Fact From Fictionhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/study-says-children-exposed-to-religion-can-have-trouble-sep
Young children who have been raised religious are more likely to identify supernatural occurrences in a story as truthful.

Godong / Contributor / Getty

It's difficult for young children to differentiate between fact and fiction after they have been exposed to religion, a new study in this month's issue of Cognitive Science says.

Researchers presented 66 5- and 6-year-old children from public and religious schools three types of stories — religious, fantastical, and realistic — to determine if they could identify fictional elements in the narratives.

The authors found that when presented with stories that included "ordinarily impossible events brought about by divine intervention," children who had been exposed to religion were less able to differentiate the made-up elements, like talking animals, as fictional.

"The results suggest that exposure to religious ideas has a powerful impact on children's differentiation between reality and fiction, not just for religious stories but also for fantastical stories," the study concluded.

By relating seemingly impossible religious events achieved through divine intervention (e.g., Jesus transforming water into wine) to fictional narratives, religious children would more heavily rely on religion to justify their false categorizations.

The researchers suggest that religious teaching and exposure to miracle-based stories give children a more common acceptance of the impossible, despite what's actually realistic.

About 83% of Americans are affiliated with a religion, and 86% said they believe in God, according to recent Gallup data. Additionally, 28% of Americans believe the Bible is God's words verbatim and should be interpreted literally.

]]>Rachel Zarrellhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/study-says-children-exposed-to-religion-can-have-trouble-sepMon, 28 Jul 2014 13:36:15 -0400<b>Young children who have been raised religious are more likely to identify supernatural occurrences in a story as truthful.</b>rachelzarrellnonadultnonadultIt's difficult for young children to differentiate between fact and fiction after they have been exposed to religion, a <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cogs.12138/abstract">new study</a> in this month&#39;s issue of <i>Cognitive Science</i> says.
Researchers presented 66 5- and 6-year-old children from public and religious schools three types of stories &mdash; religious, fantastical, and realistic &mdash; to determine if they could identify fictional elements in the narratives.
The authors found that when presented with stories that included "ordinarily impossible events brought about by divine intervention," children who had been exposed to religion were less able to differentiate the made-up elements, like talking animals, as fictional.
"The results suggest that exposure to religious ideas has a powerful impact on children&#39;s differentiation between reality and fiction, not just for religious stories but also for fantastical stories," the study concluded.nonadultnonadultAccording to the <i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/21/children-religion-fact-fiction_n_5607009.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063">Huffington Post</a></i>:
<blockquote>By relating seemingly impossible religious events achieved through divine intervention (e.g., Jesus transforming water into wine) to fictional narratives, religious children would more heavily rely on religion to justify their false categorizations.</blockquote>
The researchers suggest that religious teaching and exposure to miracle-based stories give children a more common acceptance of the impossible, despite what's actually realistic.
About 83% of Americans are affiliated with a religion, and 86% said they believe in God, <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/1690/religion.aspx">according to recent Gallup data</a>. Additionally, 28% of Americans believe the Bible is God&#39;s words verbatim and should be interpreted literally.nonadultTrust Is Like A Floating Beach Ballhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/trust-is-like-a-floating-beach-ball
Thoughts on Proverbs 3:5.

It's a bit like a beach ball floating in the deep end of a pool. You know it will keep you afloat if you grab it.

But just moving closer to the beach ball isn't enough. As long as you have one hand on the edge of the pool, you'll never be able to grab it.

]]>Nathan W. Pylehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/trust-is-like-a-floating-beach-ballFri, 25 Jul 2014 17:09:59 -0400<b>Thoughts on Proverbs 3:5.</b>nathanwpylenonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultISIS Militants Blow Up Jonah's Tomb In Iraqhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jimdalrympleii/isis-militants-blow-up-jonahs-tomb-in-iraq
The militant group has been destroying holy sites as it seeks to impose Sharia law. This week, it blew up the tomb of the biblical prophet said to have survived inside a whale.

AP Photo

The tomb is thought to be the burial place of the Old Testament prophet who survived in the belly of a whale. Officials in Mosul said militants with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) planted explosives around the shrine and detonated them remotely, CNN reports. The militants are trying to impose Sharia law in the areas under their control.

The mosque that included Jonah's tomb, as seen on Saturday:

AP Photo

The mosque after it was destroyed Thursday:

]]>Jim Dalrymple IIhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jimdalrympleii/isis-militants-blow-up-jonahs-tomb-in-iraqThu, 24 Jul 2014 23:05:05 -0400<b>The militant group has been destroying holy sites as it seeks to impose Sharia law.</b> This week, it blew up the tomb of the biblical prophet said to have survived inside a whale.jimdalrympleiinonadultnonadultThe tomb is thought to be the burial place of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah">the Old Testament prophet</a> who survived in the belly of a whale. Officials in Mosul said militants with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) planted explosives around the shrine and detonated them remotely, CNN <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/24/world/iraq-violence/index.html">reports</a>. The militants are trying to <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/miriamberger/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-deadly-extremist-group">impose Sharia law</a> in the areas under their control.nonadultnonadultnonadultJonah features prominently in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, but the tomb was located inside the Mosque of the Prophet Younis, a Sunni worship site. The ISIS has blown up several Sunni holy sites in Mosul recently, CNN <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/24/world/iraq-violence/index.html">reports</a>, and last month destroyed seven Shiite sites in Tal Afar, about 30 miles from Mosul.nonadultnonadultEarlier this month, the radical Islamic group &mdash; which <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/miriamberger/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-deadly-extremist-group">took over Mosul in June</a> &mdash; gave Christians in the city <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/miriamberger/hundreds-of-iraqi-christians-fled-mosul-after-isis-ordered-c">the choice</a> to either flee, pay a $470, or face execution. The city's last 1,500 Christian families were then robbed a ISIS checkpoints, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/iraqi-christians-mosul-isis-convert-islam-or-be-executed">according</a> to <i>The Guardian</i>, and a group of monks were only allowed to take the clothes they were wearing.
The U.N. also has <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikegiglio/un-official-says-isis-has-ordered-female-genital-mutilation">reported</a> that ISIS has ordered female genital mutilation in Mosul.nonadult7 More Accurate Bible Verse Pinterest Photoshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/7-more-accurate-bible-verse-pinterest-photos
Understanding Philippians 4:13.

If you read the whole book of Philippians, you'll understand that this verse isn't a cliché to inspire your workouts.

]]>Nathan W. Pylehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/7-more-accurate-bible-verse-pinterest-photosFri, 11 Jul 2014 14:41:27 -0400<b>Understanding Philippians 4:13.</b>nathanwpylenonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultI am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.nonadult*Note: We know Paul means "God" when he uses the pronoun "Him" because of the verses preceding. (And well, all of Paul's writings.)nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult*Granted, all of these images, if viewed alone, may lead you to some wrong conclusions about the verse. But I use them facetiously just to make a point about Paul's context here. Paul&#39;s context is important. And the topic is contentment.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultMormon Church Sued For Copyright Infringement Over Bible Recordinghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/mormon-church-sued-for-copyright-infringement-over-bible-rec
The company that owns a well-known audio recording of the Bible that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has used since 1988, alleges its copyright has been infringed.

Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been accused of copyright infringement and breach of contract by the owner of a popular audio recording of the Bible in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in Florida.

Litchfield Associates Ltd. Inc., is the owner of audio of the King James Bible read by Alexander Scourby, a theater and film actor famous for his recording. The Mormon Church entered into an agreement with Litchfield in 1988 to use the recording to produce cassette tapes that would also include Latter-day Saint chapter headings and footnotes, and purchased tapes from Litchfield until a 1994 buyout agreement, according to the complaint.

The Church is accused in the suit of improperly sub-licensing the copyrights with for-profit Deseret Book, a Church-owned bookstore with locations in 35 cities in Utah and the Western U.S., using the recording in apps, and making them available online.

Litchfield also accuses the Church of failing to take action to stop copyright infringement by two companies, Standard Works and Inblosam, which also use the Scourby recordings in apps.

According to the suit, Litchfield contacted the Church in September 2013 to notify it of the breach of the buyout agreement and demand the Church cease the alleged infringement, however, the Church has continued its infringement, the complaint states.

A spokesman for the Church declined to comment while they are reviewing the lawsuit.

The complaint:

]]>Hunter Schwarzhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/mormon-church-sued-for-copyright-infringement-over-bible-recFri, 13 Jun 2014 19:31:50 -0400<b>The company that owns a well-known audio recording of the Bible that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has used since 1988, alleges its copyright has been infringed.</b>hunterschwarznonadultnonadultThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been accused of copyright infringement and breach of contract by the owner of a popular audio recording of the Bible in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in Florida.
Litchfield Associates Ltd. Inc., is the owner of audio of the King James Bible read by Alexander Scourby, a theater and film actor famous for his recording. The Mormon Church entered into an agreement with Litchfield in 1988 to use the recording to produce cassette tapes that would also include Latter-day Saint chapter headings and footnotes, and purchased tapes from Litchfield until a 1994 buyout agreement, according to the complaint.
The Church is accused in the suit of improperly sub-licensing the copyrights with for-profit Deseret Book, a Church-owned bookstore with locations in 35 cities in Utah and the Western U.S., using the recording in apps, and making them available online.
Litchfield also accuses the Church of failing to take action to stop copyright infringement by two companies, Standard Works and Inblosam, which also use the Scourby recordings in apps.
According to the suit, Litchfield contacted the Church in September 2013 to notify it of the breach of the buyout agreement and demand the Church cease the alleged infringement, however, the Church has continued its infringement, the complaint states.
A spokesman for the Church declined to comment while they are reviewing the lawsuit.nonadultnonadult8 Untrue Facts That You Probably Believehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/mdeicke1/8-untrue-facts-that-you-probably-believe
Everything you knew about the 3rd grade was a LIE!

]]>Matt Deickehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/mdeicke1/8-untrue-facts-that-you-probably-believeWed, 19 Mar 2014 15:59:48 -0400<b>Everything you knew about the 3rd grade was a LIE!</b>mdeicke1nonadultThe Vikings Were So Badass Even Their Religions Were More Metal Than Yourshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/qwantz/viking
“Why didn’t anyone tell me that religions with GROSS BOATS and SWORDS were a viable option??” Preach, Dinosaur Comics.

]]>Jeff Rubinhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jeffrubin/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-bad-habitsFri, 29 Nov 2013 15:27:07 -0500<b>Not every bad habit is all bad.</b>jeffrubinnonadultCostco Accidentally Labeled The Bible As "Fiction"https://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonvingiano/costco-accidentally-labled-the-bible-as-fiction
After a pastor tweeted a picture of the Bible labeled as “fiction,” a lot of people freaked out. Others thought it was hilarious and appropriate. The pastor has since made amends with Costco on twitter.

]]>Ali Vingianohttps://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonvingiano/costco-accidentally-labled-the-bible-as-fictionFri, 22 Nov 2013 16:59:01 -0500<b>After a pastor tweeted a picture of the Bible labeled as "fiction," a lot of people freaked out.</b> Others thought it was hilarious and appropriate. The pastor has since made amends with Costco on <a href="https://twitter.com/calebwilds">twitter.</a>alisonvingianononadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000064151710/08b3e0b63c218f7d2837d75181ee2460_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Caleb Kaltenbach</p><p class="user_name">@calebwilds</p><p class="tweet_text">Costco has Bibles for sale under the genre of FICTION
Hmmmm......</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BZIaiM6CIAAf7-E.jpg"></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000724616613/f885f4a110ac3259401eccd5e00681bb_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Holly Bishop</p><p class="user_name">@Southerngal1963</p><p class="tweet_text">@schneid52 @calebwilds calling historical documentation of the Love between God and Man "FICTION" is NOT NOTHIN ! IT'S INSUTING &amp; PREJUDICE</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000714066252/cd819c91785d39f040aa9ac2d95bddae_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">julie</p><p class="user_name">@pottersclay94</p><p class="tweet_text">@calebwilds thx for the pic! Hard to believe! The truth is stranger than fiction ;-)</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000698905475/7920f6a63d0043edbd1c01a9cebbd4b3_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Domenica DeSantis</p><p class="user_name">@dommenicaa</p><p class="tweet_text">very disappointed in costco stores. a bible should NEVER be in the fiction section. my faith is not "fictional" thank you. #smh</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadultnonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000724616613/f885f4a110ac3259401eccd5e00681bb_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Holly Bishop</p><p class="user_name">@Southerngal1963</p><p class="tweet_text">@calebwilds DOES Costco sell The Koran under the genre of "FICTION" I WONDER ???</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/3694207592/6207da212baecb65a06aaca3a5b46967_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">David Aaron Battenâ„¢</p><p class="user_name">@dmbatten</p><p class="tweet_text">.@CostcoTweets Why are #Christian Bibles labeled as "Fiction" but KORANs are NOT???
http://t.co/9CwDoupndc
Tell us why NOW! @Costco</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ VianonadultCostco <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-costco-labels-bible-fiction-20131120,0,2267292.story#ixzz2lP9dPsKT">released a statement</a> saying a distributor had mislabeled a "small percentage" of Bibles before sending them to the store.
"We take responsibility and should have caught the mistake. We are correcting this with them for future distribution," Costco said. All mislabeled Bibles were also immediately relabeled.
"We greatly apologize for the error," the store said.
For the record: this labeling mishap was at one Costco, and has not been reported at other stores nationwide.nonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000767468493/24edfdaad53257669863205f4af07ad8_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">elvin</p><p class="user_name">@elvinm</p><p class="tweet_text">Why is Costco apologizing for putting the bible in the fiction section? Isn't that where it belongs? I'm confused</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000757419614/34622402f448709cc6061f078d0a6ac0_normal.png"></p><p class="full_user_name">Lewis</p><p class="user_name">@lewgopolis</p><p class="tweet_text">I'm of the belief that the Bible is the greatest piece of fiction that exists. A triumph - the man who wrote it is a literary genius.</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2431773655/qn5tu564fmkworyqe3iu_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Daniel Kofler</p><p class="user_name">@DanielKofler1</p><p class="tweet_text">@Southerngal1963 @schneid52 @calebwilds so fucking sick of religious fucks taking offence to every fucking thing, get over yourself grow up</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000483950280/f8d41acd6fa6553fe92427414bb0a34c_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Jamie McGonnigal</p><p class="user_name">@McBenefit</p><p class="tweet_text">Honey, we're getting a @Costco membership. Costco labels Bible "fiction." One might add "appropriately" http://t.co/ixqPYfRFwl @fxnopinion</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000773013158/afd85ffb6211e4fa7fe9722a95dbc3bf_normal.png"></p><p class="full_user_name">punch me I'm gay2013</p><p class="user_name">@AnimeIsHomo</p><p class="tweet_text">Costco apologises for listing the bible as a fiction. Isn't that true, though?</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000384341901/514947643a4998316b078f501a9c34b8_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Anti_Intellect</p><p class="user_name">@Anti_Intellect</p><p class="tweet_text">This is why humans cannot have nice things. Costco is apologizing for accurately labeling the Bible as fiction.</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000680508595/20f697ad185f204a51e982025f1fe5a9_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">lexi</p><p class="user_name">@BanginBassist</p><p class="tweet_text">If the bible isn't under "fiction" then what is it? Mystery? Fantasy?? Erotic literature? Costco has no reason to apologize -___-</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/3264745507/fec13e082575129b1a85883df92fc836_normal.png"></p><p class="full_user_name">Samuel Bronkowitz</p><p class="user_name">@SamBronkowitz</p><p class="tweet_text">It isn't? RT @Criticalanglez: California pastor outraged to find Bible filed under ð †ictionâ€™ at Costco http://t.co/vPkpIROXHv</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadultnonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000064151710/08b3e0b63c218f7d2837d75181ee2460_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Caleb Kaltenbach</p><p class="user_name">@calebwilds</p><p class="tweet_text">Just so everyone knows: I'm not outraged, angry, or stunned. I thought the label at Costco on the Bible was interesting</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000064151710/08b3e0b63c218f7d2837d75181ee2460_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Caleb Kaltenbach</p><p class="user_name">@calebwilds</p><p class="tweet_text">I'm not crusading against @Costco or anyone else. I am sorry that this has created a difficult season for them!</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000064151710/08b3e0b63c218f7d2837d75181ee2460_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Caleb Kaltenbach</p><p class="user_name">@calebwilds</p><p class="tweet_text">I believe Costco when they said it was an error. Hopefully God uses this topic to spark conversations on faith &amp; His Word. I'm sure He will</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000064151710/08b3e0b63c218f7d2837d75181ee2460_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Caleb Kaltenbach</p><p class="user_name">@calebwilds</p><p class="tweet_text">Cultural warfare over book labels casts a shadows the Gospel. Never my intent when I took a pic. I do hope discussion on God has occurred</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000064151710/08b3e0b63c218f7d2837d75181ee2460_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Caleb Kaltenbach</p><p class="user_name">@calebwilds</p><p class="tweet_text">Matthew 25: God cares about how we care for our brothers &amp; sisters in need... I'm glad #Costco is an example of that</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000064151710/08b3e0b63c218f7d2837d75181ee2460_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Caleb Kaltenbach</p><p class="user_name">@calebwilds</p><p class="tweet_text">#Costco stands on the side of the Gospel when they pay employees a living wage &amp; do good. Judge a tree by its fruit, not by its labels</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src=""></p>/ Vianonadultnonadult10 Of America's Best Public Restrooms Lead The Daily Linkshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/moerder/daily-links-11-19-2013
Plus 16 of the best selfie fails ever, Rob Ford’s fashion highlights, and six filthy jokes that came from the Bible.

]]>Adam Moerderhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/moerder/daily-links-11-19-2013Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:45:52 -0500<b>Plus 16 of the best selfie fails ever, Rob Ford&#39;s fashion highlights, and six filthy jokes that came from the Bible.</b>moerdernonadult14 Things Americans Think About The Bible In 2013https://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/14-things-americans-think-about-the-bible-in-2013
A nationwide study about Americans’ perceptions and use of the Bible conducted by evangelical faith and culture research group Barna Research found 80% of American adults consider the Bible to be sacred or holy. The study included 1,005 telephone interviews and 1,078 online surveys in January.

80% of Americans consider the Bible sacred or holy.

88% of American households own a Bible.

56% of Americans believe the Bible has too little influence in today's society.

Those who are 48 years old and older are the most likely to believe this.

]]>Hunter Schwarzhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/14-things-americans-think-about-the-bible-in-2013Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:58:10 -0400<b>A nationwide study about Americans&#39; perceptions and use of the Bible conducted by evangelical faith and culture research group Barna Research found 80% of American adults consider the Bible to be sacred or holy.</b> The study included 1,005 telephone interviews and 1,078 online surveys in January.hunterschwarznonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultTim Tebow's NFL Career Is Basically Overhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/tim-tebows-nfl-career-is-basically-over
He was let go by the New England Patriots on Saturday, and yesterday every other NFL team passed on him. Tebow took to Twitter to extend his thanks to the Patriots and quote scripture.

Michael Dwyer / AP

Quarterback Tim Tebow, as well known for his oft-publicized faith as for his football prowess, was cut from the New England Patriots on Saturday.

Tebow was a Heisman Trophy winner as a college quarterback with the University of Florida and made a big splash in the pros as a backup QB for the Denver Broncos. He never followed through on his initial promise and was traded to the New York Jets, then the Patriots.

A devout Christian and evangelist, Tebow spoke publicly of his religion at every opportunity and led prayer circles before every game. On Saturday, following the news of his ouster from New England, Tebow characteristically quoted the Bible on Twitter.

]]>Gavon Laessighttps://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/tim-tebows-nfl-career-is-basically-overMon, 02 Sep 2013 12:21:23 -0400<b>He was let go by the New England Patriots on Saturday, and yesterday every other NFL team passed on him.</b> Tebow took to Twitter to extend his thanks to the Patriots and quote scripture.gavonadultnonadultQuarterback Tim Tebow, as well known for his oft-publicized faith as for his football prowess, was cut from the New England Patriots on Saturday.
Adding insult to injury on Sunday, and <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/01/tim-tebow-clears-waivers-nfl-future-in-doubt/related/">essentially dooming his prospects in the NFL</a>, every other franchise in the football league passed on his minimum salary contract.
Tebow was a Heisman Trophy winner as a college quarterback with the University of Florida and made a big splash in the pros as a backup QB for the Denver Broncos. He never followed through on his initial promise and was traded to the New York Jets, then the Patriots.
A devout Christian and evangelist, Tebow spoke publicly of his religion at every opportunity and led prayer circles before every game. On Saturday, following the news of his ouster from New England, Tebow characteristically quoted the Bible on Twitter.nonadult<p><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1285691516/Book_Cover_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Tim Tebow</p><p class="user_name">@TimTebow</p><p class="tweet_text">I would like to thank Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, Coach McDaniels and the entire Patriots organization for giving me the opportunity...</p><p class="tweet_media"></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1285691516/Book_Cover_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Tim Tebow</p><p class="user_name">@TimTebow</p><p class="tweet_text">...to be a part of such a classy organization. I pray for nothing but the best for you all. I will remain in relentless pursuit...</p><p class="tweet_media"></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1285691516/Book_Cover_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Tim Tebow</p><p class="user_name">@TimTebow</p><p class="tweet_text">...of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback.
2 Corinthians 12:9:
And He has said to me, â€œMy grace is sufficient...</p><p class="tweet_media"></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1285691516/Book_Cover_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Tim Tebow</p><p class="user_name">@TimTebow</p><p class="tweet_text">...for you, for power is perfected in weakness.â€ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather...</p><p class="tweet_media"></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1285691516/Book_Cover_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Tim Tebow</p><p class="user_name">@TimTebow</p><p class="tweet_text">...boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.</p><p class="tweet_media"></p>/ Vianonadult<p><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1285691516/Book_Cover_normal.jpeg"></p><p class="full_user_name">Tim Tebow</p><p class="user_name">@TimTebow</p><p class="tweet_text">Psalm 62:5-7</p><p class="tweet_media"><img src="http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BS2Ym5nIgAEjd87.jpg"></p>/ VianonadultThe 16 Most Bizarre Moments In The Biblehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/moerder/most-bizarre-moments-in-the-bible
Those diligent Sunday schoolers who did extra reading were likely rewarded with NIGHTMARES.

]]>Adam Moerderhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/moerder/most-bizarre-moments-in-the-bibleTue, 27 Aug 2013 17:06:47 -0400<b>Those diligent Sunday schoolers who did extra reading were likely rewarded with NIGHTMARES.</b>moerdernonadultMaybe it&#39;s the inspiration for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJgWq_kSR9w">this classic Jim Carrey scene</a>.nonadultnonadultThere is some debate over whether Jacob wrestled God or an angel, but whoever the being was, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2032:22-31&amp;version=KJV">he named Jacob "Israel,"</a> meaning "He who struggles against God."nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultGod eventually stopped the loyal Abraham from doing it and told him to sacrifice a ram instead.nonadultnonadultHe was only asked to collect 100, but David really wanted to impress the king.nonadultnonadultnonadultnonadultnonadult144,000 people will <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+7&amp;version=NIV">go to Heaven</a>. For the rest? Fire, brimstone, monsters, water turning to blood, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation#Figures_in_Revelation">and many more terrible things</a>.nonadult"Da Jesus Book" Is The Best Bible Translationhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/kevintang/da-jesus-book-is-the-best-bible-translation
“You know, God neva send me, his Boy, inside da world fo punish da peopo.”

This is the New Testament in Hawaiian Pidgin.

(Footnote: the middle chapter of "Cloud Atlas" was based in Hawaiian Pidgin.)

When plantation workers came to Hawaii from Asia, Europe, and South America in the 19th Century, they needed a common language to share with the locals. By the 1920's, Hawaiiwan Pidgin was so widely spoken that textbooks began to be written in it. Want to hear Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" in pidgin? You're in luck.

The language has loan words from Japanese, Portuguese, Cantonese, Mexican Spanish, and Korean. It has its own grammar. Talk about a young, multicultural tongue.

Historical context: The writer has been exiled from Babylon. The Hebrew here is mournful; this psalm is often set to music.

What more conservative readers might say: It's a metaphor wherein the babies are "the sadness of the Babylonian exile" who should be “dashed against the rock of faith," or "dashing your sins against the rock of reason."

What more liberal readers might say: Noted Hebrew Bible scholar Robert Alter writes, "No moral justification can be offered for this notorious concluding line. All one can do is to recall the background of outraged feeling that triggers the conclusion.”

NB: The terms "liberal" and "conservative" here are used theologically, and used throughout as broad, non-exclusive simplifications, as the nuances of centuries of biblical interpretation are impossible to fully explicate here.

In general, "conservative" is used throughout to denote a more traditional approach that treats the biblical text with some measure of divine inspiration, whereas a "liberal" perspective might be more interested in a historical-critical approach that views the text as a document, or literarily.

Basically: "Thou shalt maketh me a sandwich."

Historical context: The vast majority of scholars believe that despite tradition, 1 Timothy wasn't actually written by the apostle Paul. But in the letter, "Paul" writes to Timothy, who's now pastoring a church at Ephesus, giving him instructions for running the place. The chapter also urges women to "dress modestly" and "learn in quietness and in full submission."

What more conservative readers might say: Though most modern scholars and pastors interpret this verse a bit more leniently, many churches and religious institutions throughout history have used this verse to bar women from leadership positions, ranging from ordination to teaching Sunday school.

What more liberal readers might say: The verse was directed at a specific church context, perhaps "feminist" women congregants who were usurping authority -- radical at the time -- or women who were attempting to spread Gnostic doctrine. Some also note that that the Greek verb authenteo (to "have authority") has a long and weird history of meanings, including committing suicide, murdering one's parents, and being sexually aggressive, and thus shouldn't be interpreted as some sort of administrative injunction today.

Basically: "You were disobedient, so God will make you eat your own kids."

Historical background: In this chapter, God relays a prophesy through Jeremiah of a destroyed Israel, using a smashed potter's vessel as an analogy. Israel had reunited a century before Jeremiah was active. The cannibalism reference is an almost verbatim quotation of Deuteronomy 28:53, which threatened that Israel would one day come to this terrible point if it disobeyed the law.

What more conservative readers might say: These terrible acts really happened, as a result of Israel turning its back on God.

What more liberal readers might say: The author of Jeremiah was picking up on the Deuteronomistic themes of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, which put forth the twin ideas of a grand nation united by God and then subjected to destruction for disobeying him. (FWIW, the historian Flavius Josephus reports that Jews starving in Jerusalem during the Roman siege of 70 CE ate their own children.)

]]>Jessica Misenerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/7-shocking-bible-verses-you-probably-wont-hear-in-churchWed, 24 Jul 2013 12:21:17 -0400<b>God-commissioned bear attacks, praise of infanticide, and cannibalism?</b> Yep, all in there.jessicamisenernonadultnonadult<b>Basically:</b> "Murdering babies is a good time."
<b>Historical context</b>: The writer has been exiled from Babylon. The Hebrew here is mournful; this psalm is often set to music.
<b>What more conservative readers might say:</b> It&#39;s a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/psalm-137-7-9-understandi_n_2550586.html">metaphor</a> wherein the babies are "the sadness of the Babylonian exile" who should be &ldquo;dashed against the rock of faith," or "dashing your sins against the rock of reason."
<b>What more liberal readers might say</b>: Noted Hebrew Bible scholar Robert Alter <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0393337049/?tag=buzz0f-20">writes,</a> "No moral justification can be offered for this notorious concluding line. All one can do is to recall the background of outraged feeling that triggers the conclusion.&rdquo;
<i>NB: The terms "liberal" and "conservative" here are used theologically, and used throughout as broad, non-exclusive simplifications, as the nuances of centuries of biblical interpretation are impossible to fully explicate here.
In general, "conservative" is used throughout to denote a more traditional approach that treats the biblical text with some measure of divine inspiration, whereas a "liberal" perspective might be more interested in a historical-critical approach that views the text as a document, or literarily.</i>nonadult<b>Basically</b>: "Thou shalt maketh me a sandwich."
<b>Historical context</b>: The vast majority of scholars believe that despite tradition, 1 Timothy wasn&#39;t actually written by the apostle Paul. But in the letter, "Paul" writes to Timothy, who&#39;s now pastoring a church at Ephesus, giving him instructions for running the place. The chapter also urges women to "dress modestly" and "learn in quietness and in full submission."
<b>What more conservative readers might say:</b> Though most modern scholars and pastors interpret this verse a bit more leniently, many churches and religious institutions throughout history have <a href="http://carm.org/1-tim-212-13-and-women-pastors-and-elders">used this verse</a> to bar women from leadership positions, ranging from ordination to teaching Sunday school.
<b>What more liberal readers might say:</b> The verse was directed at a specific church context, perhaps "feminist" women congregants who were usurping authority -- radical at the time -- or women who were attempting to spread Gnostic doctrine. Some <a href="http://christianfeminism.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/the-mistranslation-of-1-timothy-211-12/">also note</a> that that the Greek verb <i>authenteo</i> (to "have authority") has a long and weird history of meanings, including committing suicide, murdering one&#39;s parents, and being sexually aggressive, and thus shouldn&#39;t be interpreted as some sort of administrative injunction today.nonadult<b>Basically</b>: "You were disobedient, so God will make you eat your own kids."
<b>Historical background</b>: In this chapter, God relays a prophesy through Jeremiah of a destroyed Israel, using a smashed potter&#39;s vessel as an analogy. Israel had reunited a century before Jeremiah was active. The cannibalism reference is an almost verbatim quotation of Deuteronomy 28:53, which threatened that Israel would one day come to this terrible point if it disobeyed the law.
<b>What more conservative readers might say:</b> These terrible acts <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/jeremiah/19.html">really happened</a>, as a result of Israel turning its back on God.
<b>What more liberal readers might say:</b> The author of Jeremiah was <a href="http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/542125?uid=3739832&amp;uid=2&amp;uid=4&amp;uid=3739256&amp;sid=21102164233923">picking up on</a> the Deuteronomistic themes of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, which put forth the twin ideas of a grand nation united by God and then subjected to destruction for disobeying him. (FWIW, the historian Flavius Josephus <a href="http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/desolation/josephus.html">reports that Jews starving in Jerusalem</a> during the Roman siege of 70 CE ate their own children.)nonadult<b>Basically:</b> "Slavery rocks."
<b>Historical context</b>: Addressed to Christians of all social strata facing social and/or physical persecution in the early church, likely under the reign of Domitian from 81&ndash;96 CE.
<b>What more conservative readers might say:</b> Submission to masters, even "cruel" ones (from the Greek word meaning "crooked") is <a href="http://bible.org/seriespage/submission-slaves-masters-1-peter-218-25">commendable</a> as an extension of the command in Luke to love one&#39;s enemies. One&#39;s response to unjust treatment can be an opportunity to praise God. Theologically, we see the author giving the idea of suffering a moral import; as Christ suffered his wounds, so slaves are to bear theirs with perseverance.
<b>What more liberal readers might say:</b> In the contemporary Roman Empire, there were as many as 60 million slaves who performed a variety of tasks, many of them menial labor. They weren&#39;t allowed to marry, and if they had children those offspring became the property of the master. Some suggest that the injunction here is political: that the intention was to suppress any social revolution or uprising. This passage was used during America&#39;s period of slavery by both abolitionists and slaveholders. For more, see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800637895/?tag=buzz0f-20"><i>Slavery in Early Christianity</i></a> by Jennifer A. Glancy.nonadult<b>Basically</b>: There was a secret naked disciple, in addition to the usual 12.
<b>Historical context</b>: This young man appears only in Mark, the earliest gospel, and makes no appearance in the later gospels. In this account, after Judas leads the guards to Jesus with a kiss, Jesus is seized and the rest of the disciples flee, even though they&#39;d promised they wouldn&#39;t. This guy was also lurking, wearing only a towel, and the guards tried to catch him, but he ditched the towel and fled.
<b>What more conservative readers might say</b>: It&#39;s the <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/whos-the-naked-guy-and-why-does-he-matter">author Mark himself.</a> Or, he could be a metaphor for the disciples, who are now naked in the world after abandoning Jesus.
<b>What more liberal readers might say</b>: Various people have attempted to identify the man historically, but it&#39;s truly impossible to ascertain. He might be part of a literary motif <a href="http://www.biblicalstudies.ru/NT/52.html#3">crafted by the author</a>; see Mark 16:5, which depicts a man in a white robe outside the tomb telling the women that Jesus has risen, and which uses the same Greek word for "young man."nonadult<b>Basically:</b> BEAR ATTACK IN THE BIBLE. On kids.
<b>Historical context</b>: In verse 23, the prophet Elisha is on his way to Bethel when a bunch of youths start teasing him, "Go on up, you baldhead!&rdquo; Not only were they mocking his lack of hair, but the "go on up" is a jab at Elisha&#39;s ascension to heaven, which occurred earlier in the chapter. God then sends a bunch of bears to eff them up.
<b>What more conservative readers might say</b>: God&#39;s judgment on the "gang of youths" <a href="http://ronyan.org/aaronk1994/aaronsblog/20100717is-2-kings-223-24-immoral/">was fair,</a> as they were teasing a prophet of God and were likely set out to rob and possibly assault him.
<b>What more liberal readers might say</b>: Located in its literary context, it&#39;s a brutal fable meant to convey the idea that God should not be mocked. (Here&#39;s a <a href="http://bibliahebraica.blogspot.com/2009/08/bizarre-bible-stories-2-kings-223-24.html">somewhat in-depth look</a> at this passage.)nonadult<b>Basically</b>: Being gay is punishable by death.
<b>Historical background</b>: Leviticus and its so-called holiness code had a long period of transmission and editing, probably reaching its final form in post-exilic Israel (c. 530s BCE.) The book comprises both the "Priestly code" and the "Holiness code," which both contain instructions for priests and Israel alike to lead pure lives in front of God. This code for sexual ethics in Leviticus 18 also includes prohibitions against incest, bestiality, and sex with a menstruating woman.
<b>What more conservative readers might say</b>: To be fair, many churches have abandoned a literal interpretation of this verse, as the same Levitical holiness code forbids eating pork and wearing clothing made from two different fibers. But in both Christian and Jewish tradition, these verses have been used historically as a blanket prohibition against homosexual behavior. Here&#39;s <a href="http://carm.org/leviticus-18-22">one evangelical commentary</a> that argues that "ceremonial" laws, like the one prohibiting consumption of pork, are no longer valid, but that the "moral" laws, like the one prohibiting homosexual behavior, still are.
<b>What more liberal readers might say</b>: The prohibition of gay sex <a href="http://biblethumpingliberal.com/2011/05/19/you-can%E2%80%99t-quote-leviticus-to-prove-god-hates-homosexuality/">must be read</a> in the historical context of the time. There was really no contemporary equivalent of a loving homosexual relationship like we have today, much ancient same-sex activity involved pederasty. In addition, male "seed" was prized as valuable for producing offspring, and any activity that "wasted" it was frowned upon. (See also the injunction against "onanism" in Genesis 38.)nonadult11 Things Everyone Thinks Are In The Bible, But Aren'thttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/11-things-everyone-thinks-are-in-the-bible-but-arent
Cleanliness: not technically next to godliness. (Yesssss.)

"This, too, shall pass."

Actually from: Persian poetry.

This proverb has its roots in the works of Persian Sufi poets. Attar of Nishapur records one fable of a powerful king who asks assembled wise men to create a ring that will make him happy when he is sad, and vice versa. After debating, the sages hand him a simple ring with the words "This too will pass" etched on it, which has the desired effect.

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

Actually from: The Talmud.

This old proverb, often also mistakenly attributed to Ben Franklin, actually comes from Phineas ben Yair, whose writing appears in the Talmud this way: “The doctrines of religion are resolved into carefulness; carefulness into vigorousness; vigorousness into abstemiousness into cleanliness; cleanliness into godliness.” I.e., "cleanliness’ is literally next to ‘godliness." Yes.

A little drummer boy.

]]>Jessica Misenerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/11-things-everyone-thinks-are-in-the-bible-but-arentThu, 14 Mar 2013 12:09:22 -0400<b>Cleanliness: not technically next to godliness.</b> (Yesssss.)jessicamisenernonadultCreepy Images From An Abandoned Bible Theme Parkhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/creepy-images-from-an-abandoned-bible-theme-park
The park’s been closed and neglected for 29 years. Take a look inside.

In Waterbury, Conn., there's an abandoned park called Holy Land U.S.A.

KJV: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

QJV: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may rape and humiliate them. (Page 21)

KJV: Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination.

QJV: Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind in the temple of Molech: it is an abomination. (Page 75)

KJV: If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

QJV: If a man also lie with mankind in the temple of Molech, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Page 76)

]]>Stacy Lambehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/stacylambe/the-gay-bibleThu, 13 Dec 2012 10:29:05 -0500<b>There&#39;s a gay-friendly version of the King James edition dubbed "Queen James Bible."</b> The new interpretation of the Bible is meant to address homosexuality by updating specific passages from the previous version.stacylambenonadultnonadult<b>KJV:</b> And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
<b>QJV:</b> And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may rape and humiliate them. (Page 21)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination.
<b>QJV:</b> Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind in the temple of Molech: it is an abomination. (Page 75)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
<b>QJV:</b> If a man also lie with mankind in the temple of Molech, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Page 76)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against their nature.
<b>QJV:</b> Their women did change their natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, left of the natural use of the woman, burned in ritual lust, one toward another. (Page 545)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
<b>QJV:</b> Men with men working that which is pagan and unseemly. For this cause God gave the idolators up unto vile affections, receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Page 545)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
<b>QJV:</b> Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor morally weak, nor promiscuous. (Page 554)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
<b>QJV:</b> Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (Page 554)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.
<b>QJV:</b> For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. (Page 575)nonadult<b>KJV:</b> Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
<b>QJV:</b> Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after nonhuman flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Page 593)nonadultFull explanation on the changes and where to buy the Bible <a href="http://queenjamesbible.com/gay-bible/">here</a>.nonadultArkansas Mailer Features Epic Putin/Obama/Pope Photoshophttps://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/arkansas-mailer-features-astonishing-putinobamaa
An exciting Bible seminar.

In Little Rock? A reader sends in this photo of a mailer sent to people in Arkansas, advertising a conference for "Islam and Christianity in Bible Prophecy":

The seminar will be given by Tim Roosenberg, a pastor from Idaho who "has studied prophecy for over 25 years and has discovered that following the interpretation methods of the early church and the reformers results in the most reliable and logical understanding of Bible prophecy," per the bio on his website.

]]>Rosie Grayhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/arkansas-mailer-features-astonishing-putinobamaaTue, 16 Oct 2012 13:00:42 -0400<b>An exciting Bible seminar.</b>rosiegraynonadultIn Little Rock? A reader sends in this photo of a mailer sent to people in Arkansas, advertising a conference for "Islam and Christianity in Bible Prophecy":nonadultnonadultThe seminar will be given by Tim Roosenberg, a pastor from Idaho who "has studied prophecy for over 25 years and has discovered that following the interpretation methods of the early church and the reformers results in the most reliable and logical understanding of Bible prophecy," per the bio on his website.
The other side of the mailer:nonadultnonadultSeminar topics include "Tidings From The East and the Mark Of The Beast" and "The King of The North and the Little Horn Antichrist Beast."
The "mysterious book of Daniel" apparently contains a prophecy about the future in chapter 11 which will be the focus of the seminar, which is free.nonadult13 Best Online Reviews Of The Biblehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/annanorth/13-best-online-reviews-of-the-bible
“Main character is too full of himself, not relateable.”

]]>Anna Northhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/annanorth/13-best-online-reviews-of-the-bibleFri, 31 Aug 2012 16:57:43 -0400<b>"Main character is too full of himself, not relateable."</b>annanorthnonadultSpirit To Serve?https://www.buzzfeed.com/johnr10/spirit-to-serve-1zoj
After opening the nightstand drawer in my hotel room, I’m not sure which path to choose.

]]>H_Badgerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/johnr10/spirit-to-serve-1zojMon, 11 Jun 2012 00:06:03 -0400<b>After opening the nightstand drawer in my hotel room, I&#39;m not sure which path to choose.</b>johnr10nonadultAutographed Bible Found In Hotel Drawerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/autographed-bible-found-in-hotel-drawer
Stay cool, have a good summer, see you next year. If only Jesus could have signed your yearbook.

]]>Peggy Wanghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/autographed-bible-found-in-hotel-drawerMon, 09 Apr 2012 18:38:34 -0400<b>Stay cool, have a good summer, see you next year.</b> If only Jesus could have signed your yearbook.peggynonadultObama: I Pushed Dodd-Frank And Health Care Reform Because Of Christhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/obama-i-pushed-dodd-frank-and-health-care-reform
At National Prayer Breakfast, Obama grounds his controversial policies in the Bible. Tax hikes for rich “[coincide] with Jesus’s teaching.”

President Barack Obama has been taking lumps from Republicans for years over his support for Wall Street and health care reform, but today at the National Prayer Breakfast he claimed support from on high to defend two of his most controversial legislative achievements.

"And so when I talk about our financial institutions playing by the same rules as folks on Main Street, when I talk about making sure insurance companies aren’t discriminating against those who are already sick, or making sure that unscrupulous lenders aren’t taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us, I do so because I genuinely believe it will make the economy stronger for everybody. But I also do it because I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years, and I believe in God’s command to 'love thy neighbor as thyself.'"

"I know the version of that Golden Rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs — from Hinduism to Islam to Judaism to the writings of Plato," Obama added.

The president said he often falls to his knees in prayer, and emphasized the role of his religious values in determining where to lead the country.

"I’d be remiss if I stopped there; if my values were limited to personal moments of prayer or private conversations with pastors or friends. So instead, I must try — imperfectly, but I must try — to make sure those values motivate me as one leader of this great nation."

Obama maintained that his call for the wealthiest to give up their tax breaks, he's doing so out of economic necessity, but also in line with biblical teachings.

"And I think to myself, if I’m willing to give something up as somebody who’s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense. But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that 'for unto whom much is given, much shall be required,'" Obama said, noting Jewish and Islamic teachings say much the same thing.

Obama also defended foreign aid from assault, noting that it not just enhances the nation's security — but fulfills the biblical requirement to look out for those who cannot speak for themselves.

"And when I decide to stand up for foreign aid, or prevent atrocities in places like Uganda, or take on issues like human trafficking, it’s not just about strengthening alliances, or promoting democratic values, or projecting American leadership around the world, although it does all those things and it will make us safer and more secure. It’s also about the biblical call to care for the least of these — for the poor; for those at the margins of our society.
To answer the responsibility we’re given in Proverbs to 'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.'"

]]>Zeke Millerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/obama-i-pushed-dodd-frank-and-health-care-reformThu, 02 Feb 2012 10:06:21 -0500<b>At National Prayer Breakfast, Obama grounds his controversial policies in the Bible.</b> Tax hikes for rich "[coincide] with Jesus&#39;s teaching."zekejmillernonadultnonadultPresident Barack Obama has been taking lumps from Republicans for years over his support for Wall Street and health care reform, but today at the National Prayer Breakfast he claimed support from on high to defend two of his most controversial legislative achievements.
<blockquote>"And so when I talk about our financial institutions playing by the same rules as folks on Main Street, when I talk about making sure insurance companies aren&rsquo;t discriminating against those who are already sick, or making sure that unscrupulous lenders aren&rsquo;t taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us, I do so because I genuinely believe it will make the economy stronger for everybody. But I also do it because I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years, and I believe in God&rsquo;s command to &#39;love thy neighbor as thyself.&#39;"</blockquote>
"I know the version of that Golden Rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs &mdash; from Hinduism to Islam to Judaism to the writings of Plato," Obama added.
The president said he often falls to his knees in prayer, and emphasized the role of his religious values in determining where to lead the country.
"I&rsquo;d be remiss if I stopped there; if my values were limited to personal moments of prayer or private conversations with pastors or friends. So instead, I must try &mdash; imperfectly, but I must try &mdash; to make sure those values motivate me as one leader of this great nation."
Obama maintained that his call for the wealthiest to give up their tax breaks, he&#39;s doing so out of economic necessity, but also in line with biblical teachings.
"And I think to myself, if I&rsquo;m willing to give something up as somebody who&rsquo;s been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that&rsquo;s going to make economic sense. But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus&rsquo;s teaching that &#39;for unto whom much is given, much shall be required,&#39;" Obama said, noting Jewish and Islamic teachings say much the same thing.
Obama also defended foreign aid from assault, noting that it not just enhances the nation&#39;s security &mdash; but fulfills the biblical requirement to look out for those who cannot speak for themselves.
<blockquote>"And when I decide to stand up for foreign aid, or prevent atrocities in places like Uganda, or take on issues like human trafficking, it&rsquo;s not just about strengthening alliances, or promoting democratic values, or projecting American leadership around the world, although it does all those things and it will make us safer and more secure. It&rsquo;s also about the biblical call to care for the least of these &mdash; for the poor; for those at the margins of our society.
To answer the responsibility we&rsquo;re given in Proverbs to &#39;Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.&#39;"</blockquote>nonadultThe Savior Of Gothamhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/snarkvictory/the-savior-of-gotham-3zgp
All things in life are possible if you just let the Batman into your heart.

]]>SnarkVictoryhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/snarkvictory/the-savior-of-gotham-3zgpThu, 03 Nov 2011 19:33:28 -0400<b>All things in life are possible if you just let the Batman into your heart.</b>snarkvictorynonadultHotel Room Trollhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/burnred/hotel-room-troll-slightly-nsfw-281t
Unless there are some lesser known chapters of that book that I’m not entirely familiar with.

]]>TabloidTruthshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/burnred/hotel-room-troll-slightly-nsfw-281tMon, 02 May 2011 03:46:44 -0400Unless there are some lesser known chapters of that book that I&#39;m not entirely familiar with.burnrednonadultBiblical References In Harry Potterhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleybaccam/biblical-references-in-harry-potter
IT IS WRITTEN!

]]>Ashley Baccamhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleybaccam/biblical-references-in-harry-potterWed, 23 Mar 2011 15:09:52 -0400IT IS WRITTEN!ashleybaccamnonadultWhy The Old Testament And Children Don't Mixhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/jtcp/why-the-old-testament-and-children-dont-mix-2m5i

]]>Eduardo M.https://www.buzzfeed.com/eduardoleon/baby-got-book-ga9Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:01:02 -0400<b> Even the&#xFEFF; pope likes big books. </b> This guy is for <a href="http://www.whiteboydj.com/">real!</a>.eduardoleonadultTop 10 Bible Reviews On Amazon.comhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/eduardoleon/top-10-bible-reviews-on-amazoncom-ga9
I don’t know what’s better, these reviews, or the fact that someone was able to create a top ten!

]]>Eduardo M.https://www.buzzfeed.com/eduardoleon/top-10-bible-reviews-on-amazoncom-ga9Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:58:20 -0400<b> I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s better, these reviews, or the fact that someone was able to create a top ten! </b>eduardoleonadultBiblical Defense Reports, By Donald Rumsfeldhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/akdobbins/defense-briefing-cover-art
GQ unearthed the cover art from Donald Rumsfeld’s daily security briefing reports, which were apparently designed by an evangelical Matt Drudge.

God will decide when the world will end. And other insights on climate change based on the infallible words of the Bible. Yay government!

]]>Tim Atkinsonhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/tima/what-your-taxes-pay-for-6auTue, 31 Mar 2009 10:19:04 -0400God will decide when the world will end. And other insights on climate change based on the infallible words of the Bible. Yay government!timanonadultThe Facebook of Genesishttps://www.buzzfeed.com/gibbs12/the-facebook-of-genesis-7e
A look at if God had Facebook from the beginning.

]]>Matt Gibbshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/gibbs12/the-facebook-of-genesis-7eThu, 13 Nov 2008 10:31:35 -0500A look at if God had Facebook from the beginning.gibbs12adult